LAWYERS TITLE CORP
8-K, 1997-11-20
TITLE INSURANCE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report: November 7, 1997
                        (Date of earliest event reported)



                            LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



          Virginia                       0-13990                 54-1589611
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

         6630 West Broad Street             
           Richmond, Virginia                             23230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 281-6700


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<PAGE>

Item 5.     Other Events.

         On November 7, 1997,  Lawyers Title Corporation (the "Company") entered
into a Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), dated as of November
7, 1997,  among Bank of America  National  Trust and Savings  Association  and a
syndicate  of  eleven  other  financial  institutions.  Pursuant  to the  Credit
Agreement,  a senior  credit  facility  (the "Credit  Facility") in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $237.5 million is available (i) to provide up to $30.0
million  for  general  corporate  purposes,  and (ii) to finance the $207.5 cash
payment to Reliance  Insurance Company in connection with the Company's proposed
acquisition (the "Acquisition"),  previously reported,  of all of the issued and
outstanding   capital  stock  of  Commonwealth   Land  Title  Insurance  Company
("Commonwealth")  and Transnation  Title Insurance  Company.  Advances under the
Credit  Facility in excess of $30.0 million are subject to the  consummation  of
the Acquisition and the satisfaction of other conditions customary to financings
of this nature.

         The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants which restrict,  or may
have the effect of restricting,  the payment of dividends or distributions,  and
the purchase or redemption by the Company of its capital stock.  Section 7.11 of
the Credit Agreement generally limits the aggregate amount of all cash dividends
and stock  repurchases by the Company to 25% of its cumulative  consolidated net
income  arising after  December 31, 1996.  However,  the Company may declare and
make  dividend  payments  or other  distributions  payable  solely in its common
stock,  and is also permitted to repurchase  shares of its common stock with the
proceeds  from a  substantially  concurrent  issue of new  shares of its  common
stock.

         The Credit Agreement also sets forth certain  financial  covenants that
may indirectly  restrict the payment of cash  dividends by the Company.  Section
7.15 of the  Credit  Agreement  requires  the  Company's  insurance  subsidiary,
Lawyers  Title  Insurance  Corporation,  to  maintain  a  Statutory  Surplus  of
approximately  $120.5 million and,  following  consummation of the  Acquisition,
Commonwealth is required to maintain a Statutory Surplus of approximately $108.4
million.  The Company is  required  to  maintain a Debt to Total  Capitalization
Ratio of 40%, 37.5%,  35%, 32% and 30%, for the fiscal years ending December 31,
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and after 2001,  respectively.  Also, pursuant to Section
7.17 of the Credit Agreement,  the Company must maintain a Debt Service Coverage
Ratio greater than or equal to 2.25 to 1.0.

         Management  does not believe  that the  restrictions  contained  in the
Credit Agreement will, in the foreseeable future, adversely affect the Company's
ability to pay cash dividends at the current dividend rate.
However, there can be no assurance in this regard.

         The discussion of the Credit Agreement  presented above is qualified in
its entirety to the full text of the Credit Agreement,  which is attached hereto
as Exhibit 99.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>

Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

     (c)    Exhibits.

            No.         Description
            --          -----------

            99    Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 7, 1997, among
                  Lawyers  Title  Corporation,  as  Borrower;  Bank  of  America
                  National Trust and Savings  Association,  individually  and as
                  Administrative  Agent;  Crestar  Bank,   individually  and  as
                  Documentation  Agent;  and the  other  financial  institutions
                  party thereto.*



- -------------
*Filed Herewith



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION



Dated: November 17, 1997                By: /s/ Charles H. Foster, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Charles H. Foster, Jr.
                                            Chairman and Chief Operating Officer


<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


No.            Description
- ---            -----------

99             Revolving  Credit  Agreement dated as of November 7, 1997,  among
               Lawyers Title Corporation,  as Borrower; Bank of America National
               Trust and Savings Association, individually and as Administrative
               Agent; Crestar Bank, individually and as Documentation Agent; and
               the other financial institutions party thereto.*



- ---------------
*Filed Herewith



                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


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                                  $237,500,000

                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of November 7, 1997

                                      among

                           LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION,
                                  as Borrower,

                         BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                            AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                    Individually and as Administrative Agent,


                                  CRESTAR BANK,
                    Individually and as Documentation Agent,

                                       and

                  THE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO



                                   Arranged by

                         BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS






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<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

   Section                                                                  Page

         

ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS.........................................................1
1.01   Certain Defined Terms...................................................1
1.02   Other Interpretive Provisions..........................................22
1.03   Accounting Principles..................................................23
                                                   
ARTICLE II  THE CREDITS.......................................................23
2.01   Amounts and Terms of Commitments.......................................23
2.02   Notes; Loan Accounts...................................................23
2.03   Procedure for Borrowing................................................24
2.04   Conversion and Continuation Elections for Borrowings...................25
2.05   Reduction of Commitments...............................................27
2.06   Prepayments............................................................27
2.07   Repayment..............................................................28
2.08   Interest...............................................................28
2.09   Fees...................................................................29
       (a)  Underwriting, Agency Fees.........................................29
       (b)  Facility Fees.....................................................29
2.10   Computation of Fees and Interest.......................................29
2.11   Payments by the Company................................................29
2.12   Payments by the Banks to the Agent.....................................30
2.13   Sharing of Payments, Etc...............................................31
2.14   Extensions of the Commitments..........................................31

ARTICLE III  TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY...........................32
3.01   Taxes..................................................................32
3.02   Illegality.............................................................33
3.03   Increased Costs and Reduction of Return................................34
3.04   Funding Losses.........................................................34
3.05   Inability to Determine Rates...........................................35
3.06   Certificates of Banks..................................................36
3.07   Survival...............................................................36

ARTICLE IV  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT............ .................................36
4.01   Conditions to Effectiveness and Initial Advances of Loans
       up to an Aggregate Exposure of $30 Million.............................36
       (a)     Credit Agreement and Notes.....................................36
       (b)     Resolutions; Incumbency........................................36
       (c)     Organization Documents; Good Standing..........................36
       (d)     Legal Opinion..................................................37
       (e)     Payment of Fees and Expenses...................................37



                                       i
<PAGE>

       (f)     Certificate....................................................37
       (g)     Approvals......................................................38
       (h)     Termination of Prior Indebtedness..............................38
       (i)     Other Documents................................................38
4.02   Conditions to Advances of Loans  in Excess of $30 Million 
       of Aggregate Exposure..................................................38
       (a)     Consummation of the Stock Acquisition..........................38
       (b)     Certified Copies...............................................38
       (c)     Certificate....................................................38
       (d)     Approvals and Consents.........................................39
       (e)     Legal Opinions.................................................39
       (f)     Evidence of Payment............................................39
       (g)     Other Documents................................................39
4.03   Conditions to All Borrowings...........................................39
       (a)     Notice of Borrowing............................................39
       (b)     Continuation of Representations and Warranties.................40
       (c)     No Existing Default............................................40

ARTICLE V  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................................40
5.01   Corporate Existence and Power..........................................40
5.02   Corporate Authorization; No Contravention..............................40
5.03   Governmental Authorization.............................................41
5.04   Binding Effect.........................................................41
5.05   Litigation.............................................................41
5.06   No Default.............................................................42
5.07   ERISA Compliance.......................................................42
5.08   Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations....................................42
5.09   Title to Properties....................................................43
5.10   Taxes..................................................................43
5.11   Financial Condition....................................................43
5.12   Environmental Matters..................................................44
5.13   Regulated Entities.....................................................44
5.14   No Burdensome Restrictions.............................................44
5.15   Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc......................44
5.16   Subsidiaries...........................................................44
5.17   Insurance..............................................................44
5.18   Swap Obligations.......................................................44
5.19   Acquisition Documents..................................................45
5.20   Insurance Licenses.....................................................45
5.21   Reinsurance............................................................45
5.22   Reserves...............................................................46
5.23   Full Disclosure........................................................46

ARTICLE VI  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.............................................46
6.01   Financial Statements...................................................46
6.02   Certificates; Other Information........................................48



                                       ii
<PAGE>

6.03   Notices................................................................48
6.04   Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc...............................50
6.05   Maintenance of Property................................................50
6.06   Insurance..............................................................51
6.07   Payment of Obligations.................................................51
6.08   Compliance with Laws...................................................51
6.09   Compliance with ERISA..................................................51
6.10   Inspection of Property and Books and Records...........................51
6.11   Environmental Laws.....................................................52
6.12   Use of Proceeds........................................................52
6.13   Designation of Material Subsidiaries...................................52

ARTICLE VII  NEGATIVE AND FINANCIAL COVENANTS.................................52
7.01   Limitation on Liens....................................................52
7.02   Disposition of Assets..................................................54
7.03   Consolidations and Mergers.............................................55
7.04   Loans and Investments..................................................55
7.05   Limitation on Indebtedness.............................................56
7.06   Transactions with Affiliates...........................................57
7.07   Use of Proceeds........................................................57
7.08   Contingent Obligations.................................................57
7.09   Joint Ventures.........................................................58
7.10   Lease Obligations......................................................58
7.11   Restricted Payments....................................................58
7.12   ERISA..................................................................59
7.13   Change in Business.....................................................59
7.14   Accounting Changes.....................................................59
7.15   Minimum Statutory Surplus..............................................59
7.16   Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio.....................................59
7.17   Debt Service Coverage Ratio............................................60
7.18   Prepayments............................................................60

ARTICLE VIII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT...............................................60
8.01   Event of Default.......................................................60
       (a)     Non-Payment....................................................60
       (b)     Representation or Warranty.....................................60
       (c)     Specific Defaults..............................................60
       (d)     Other Defaults.................................................60
       (e)     Cross-Default..................................................60
       (f)     Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings..............................61
       (g)     Involuntary Proceedings........................................61
       (h)     ERISA..........................................................62
       (i)     Monetary Judgments.............................................62
       (j)     Non-Monetary Judgments.........................................62
       (k)     Loss of Licenses...............................................62
       (l)     Adverse Order..................................................62


                                      iii
<PAGE>

8.02   Remedies...............................................................62
8.03   Rights Not Exclusive...................................................63

ARTICLE IX  THE AGENT.........................................................63
9.01   Appointment and Authorization; "Agent".................................63
9.02   Delegation of Duties...................................................64
9.03   Liability of Agent.....................................................64
9.04   Reliance by Agent......................................................64
9.05   Notice of Default......................................................65
9.06   Credit Decision........................................................65
9.07   Indemnification of Agent...............................................65
9.08   Agent in Individual Capacity...........................................66
9.09   Successor Agent........................................................66
9.10   Withholding Tax........................................................67
9.11   Co-Agents..............................................................68

ARTICLE X  MISCELLANEOUS......................................................68
10.01  Amendments and Waivers.................................................68
10.02  Notices................................................................69
10.03  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.........................................70
10.04  Costs and Expenses.....................................................70
10.05  Company Indemnification................................................71
10.06  Payments Set Aside.....................................................71
10.07  Successors and Assigns.................................................72
10.08  Assignments, Participations, etc.......................................72
10.09  Confidentiality........................................................73
10.10  Set-off................................................................74
10.11  Automatic Debits of Fees...............................................74
10.12  Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc........................75
10.13  Counterparts...........................................................75
10.14  Severability...........................................................75
10.15  No Third Parties Benefited.............................................75
10.16  GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.........................................75
10.17  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...................................................76
10.18  Entire Agreement.......................................................77



                                       iv
<PAGE>

       SCHEDULES

       Schedule 2.01            Commitments
       Schedule 5.03            Approvals
       Schedule 5.05            Litigation
       Schedule 5.07(a)         ERISA
       Schedule 5.07(c)(ii)     Unfunded Pension Liability
       Schedule 5.10            Taxes
       Schedule 5.11            Permitted Liabilities
       Schedule 5.12            Environmental Matters
       Schedule 5.16            Subsidiaries and Minority Interests
       Schedule 5.17            Insurance
       Schedule 5.20            Insurance Licenses
       Schedule 5.21            Reinsurance
       Schedule 5.22            Reserves
       Schedule 7.01            Permitted Liens
       Schedule 7.02(e)         Dispositions of Assets
       Schedule 7.05            Permitted Indebtedness
       Schedule 7.08            Contingent Obligations
       Schedule 10.02           Lending Offices; Addresses for Notices

       EXHIBITS

       Exhibit A                Form of Compliance Certificate
       Exhibit B                Form of Notice of Borrowing
       Exhibit C                Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
       Exhibit D                Form of Promissory Note
       Exhibit E                Form of Assignment and Acceptance

                                        v

<PAGE>

                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT


         This REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT is entered into as of November
7,  1997,  among  LAWYERS  TITLE  CORPORATION,   a  Virginia   corporation  (the
"Company"),  the several financial  institutions from time to time party to this
Agreement  (collectively,  the  "Banks";  individually,  a "Bank"),  and BANK OF
AMERICA   NATIONAL   TRUST  AND  SAVINGS   ASSOCIATION,   individually   and  as
administrative agent for the Banks.

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS,  the Banks have agreed to make available to the Company a five
(5) year senior unsecured  revolving credit facility in the aggregate  principal
amount  of  $237,500,000  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in this
Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual agreements,  provisions
and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         1.01  Certain Defined Terms.  The  following  terms have the  following
meanings:

                  "Acquisition"  means any  transaction  or  series  of  related
         transactions  consummated  after the date  hereof for the purpose of or
         resulting,  directly or  indirectly,  in (a) the  acquisition of all or
         substantially  all of the  assets of a Person,  or of any  business  or
         division of a Person,  (b) the  acquisition  of in excess of 50% of the
         capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or equity of
         any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary,  or
         (c) a merger or  consolidation  or any other  combination  with another
         Person  (other than a Person that is a  Subsidiary)  provided  that the
         Company or the Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

                  "Acquisition Documents" means the Stock Purchase Agreement and
         the  other  documents,   certificates   and  agreements   delivered  in
         connection with the Stock Acquisition.

                  "Affiliate"  means, as to any Person,  any other Person which,
         directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
         common control with,  such Person.  A Person shall be deemed to control
         another  Person  if  the  controlling  Person  possesses,  directly  or
         indirectly,  the  power  to  direct  or  cause  the  direction  of  the
         management  and  policies  of



<PAGE>

         the other Person,  whether through the ownership of voting  securities,
         membership interests, by contract, or otherwise.

                  "Agent" means BofA in its capacity as administrative agent for
         the Banks  hereunder,  and any  successor  agent  arising under Section
         9.09.

                  "Agent-Related  Persons"  means BofA and any  successor  agent
         arising under Section 9.09,  together with their respective  Affiliates
         (including,  in the  case of BofA,  the  Arranger),  and the  officers,
         directors,  employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
         Affiliates.

                  "Agent's  Payment  Office"  means the address for payments set
         forth on  Schedule  10.02 or such  other  address as the Agent may from
         time to time specify.

                  "Aggregate  Exposure" means the aggregate  principal amount of
         outstanding Loans.

                  "Agreement" means this Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended,
         modified or supplemented from time to time.

                  "Agreement  Accounting  Principles"  means generally  accepted
         accounting  principles  as in effect  from time to time,  applied  in a
         manner consistent with those used in preparing the financial statements
         referred to in Section 5.11.

                  "Agronaut" means Agronaut Relocation Services, LLC, a Michigan
         limited liability company and a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Annual  Statement"  means  the  annual  statutory   financial
         statement  of any  Insurance  Subsidiary  required to be filed with the
         insurance  commissioner  (or similar  authority) of its jurisdiction of
         incorporation,  which  statement  shall be in the form required by such
         Insurance Subsidiary's jurisdiction of incorporation or, if no specific
         form is so required,  in the form of financial  statements permitted by
         such insurance  commissioner (or such similar authority) to be used for
         filing annual statutory financial statements and shall contain the type
         of  information  permitted  by such  insurance  commissioner  (or  such
         similar authority) to be disclosed therein,  together with all exhibits
         or schedules filed therewith.

                  "Applicable Margin" means (a) at any time the Company's senior
         unsecured  Indebtedness  is not  explicitly  or  implicitly  rated by a
         Rating Agency, whichever of the following Applicable Margins shall then
         apply:

                     APPLICABLE MARGIN FOR INDICATED STATUS

                         LEVEL       LEVEL       LEVEL       LEVEL       LEVEL
                           I          II          III         IV           V
                         STATUS      STATUS      STATUS      STATUS      STATUS

         Offshore Rate    .18%        .24%       .275%       .325%        .40%
            Loans

         Facility Fee     .07%        .085%      .10%        .125%        .15%



                                        2

<PAGE>

         For purposes of this subsection (a) of this  definition,  the Company's
         status will be determined based on the following definitions:

                  "Level I Status"  exists at any date if, as of the last day of
                  the most  recently  ended fiscal  quarter of the Company,  the
                  Debt to Total  Capitalization  Ratio is less  than or equal to
                  20%.

                  "Level II Status" exists at any date if, as of the last day of
                  the most recently  ended fiscal quarter of the Company (a) the
                  requirements  necessary  to achieve  Level I Status  shall not
                  have been  satisfied and (b) the Debt to Total  Capitalization
                  Ratio is greater than 20% but less than or equal to 25%.

                  "Level III  Status"  exists at any date if, as of the last day
                  of the most recently  ended fiscal  quarter of the Company (a)
                  the  requirements to achieve Level I Status or Level II Status
                  shall  not  have  been  satisfied  and (b) the  Debt to  Total
                  Capitalization  Ratio is  greater  than  25% but less  than or
                  equal to 30%.

                  "Level IV Status" exists at any date if, as of the last day of
                  the most recently  ended fiscal quarter of the Company (a) the
                  requirements  to  achieve  Level I Status,  Level II Status or
                  Level III  Status  shall not have been  satisfied  and (b) the
                  Debt to Total  Capitalization  Ratio is  greater  than 30% but
                  less than or equal to 35%.

                  "Level V Status"  exists at any date if, as of the last day of
                  the most recently  ended fiscal quarter of the Company (a) the
                  requirements  necessary  to achieve  Level I Status,  Level II
                  Status,  Level III  Status  or Level IV Status  shall not have
                  been satisfied and (b) the Debt to Total  Capitalization Ratio
                  is greater than 35%.

         The Applicable  Margin  determined  pursuant to this  subsection (a) of
this  definition  shall be adjusted five (5) Business Days after the delivery of
the Compliance  Certificate for any fiscal quarter  pursuant to Section 6.02(a);
provided, that if such certificate is not delivered by the fifth (5th) day after
the required  delivery date for such  certificate,  then until further  adjusted
pursuant



                                       3

<PAGE>

hereto,  the  Applicable  Margin shall be equal to .40% with respect to Offshore
Rate Loans and .15% with respect to the facility fee and further  provided  that
in no event  shall the  Applicable  Margin be  reduced  at any time a Default or
Event of Default has occurred  and is  continuing.  Until  adjusted as described
above based on the Compliance Certificate for the fiscal quarter ending December
31, 1997 or adjusted as  described in the  following  sentence,  the  Applicable
Margin  shall be based on Level I Status.  The  Applicable  Margin shall also be
adjusted  on  the  Increased   Borrowing   Date  based  on  the  Debt  to  Total
Capitalization Ratio as of such date (giving effect to the Stock Acquisition and
related  borrowings)  using,  for purposes of such  computation,  the  Company's
Shareholders' Equity as of September 30, 1997.

                  (b)    at any time the Company's senior unsecured Indebtedness
         is explicitly or implicitly rated by a Rating Agency then the following
         Applicable Margins shall apply:

                     APPLICABLE MARGIN FOR INDICATED STATUS

                           LEVEL     LEVEL     LEVEL     LEVEL     LEVEL
                             I        II        III       IV         V
                           STATUS    STATUS    STATUS    STATUS    STATUS

         Offshore Rate     .165%      .20%     .225%     .30%       .50%
            Loans

         Facility Fee      .085%      .10%     .125%     .15%       .25%


         For purposes of this subsection (b) of this  definition,  the Company's
         status will be determined based on the following definitions:

                  "Level I Status"  exists at any date if, as of such date,  the
                  senior unsecured  Indebtedness of the Company is rated greater
                  than A- by S&P or greater than A3 by Moody's.

                  "Level II Status"  exists at any date if, as of such date, (a)
                  the requirements necessary to achieve Level I Status shall not
                  have been satisfied and (b) the senior unsecured  Indebtedness
                  of the Company is rated  greater  than or equal to BBB+ by S&P
                  or greater than or equal to Baa1 by Moody's.

                  "Level III Status" exists at any date if, as of such date, (a)
                  the  requirements to achieve Level I Status or Level II Status
                  shall not have been  satisfied  and (b) the  senior  unsecured
                  Indebtedness  of the Company is rated greater than or equal to
                  BBB by S&P or greater than or equal to Baa2 by Moody's.



                                       4
<PAGE>
                  "Level IV Status"  exists at any date if, as of such date, (a)
                  the requirements to achieve Level I Status, Level II Status or
                  Level III  Status  shall not have been  satisfied  and (b) the
                  senior unsecured  Indebtedness of the Company is rated greater
                  than or equal to BBB- by S&P or greater  than or equal to Baa3
                  by Moody's.

                  "Level V Status"  exists at any date if, as of such date,  the
                  requirements  necessary  to achieve  Level I Status,  Level II
                  Status,  Level III  Status  or Level IV Status  shall not have
                  been satisfied.

         If the ratings  established  or deemed to have been  established by the
Rating  Agencies for senior  unsecured  Indebtedness  of the Company  shall fall
within different categories,  then notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable
Margin shall be based on the higher of the two ratings; provided,  however, that
in the event of a split by S&P and  Moody's of more than one rating  level,  the
Applicable Margin shall be based on the level one rating below the highest level
of the two split levels;  and if the ratings  established or deemed to have been
established  by S&P and Moody's  for the senior  unsecured  Indebtedness  of the
Company  shall be  changed  (other  than as a result of a change  in the  rating
system of S&P or  Moody's),  such change  shall be  effective  as of the date on
which it is first announced by the applicable Rating Agency provided, that in no
event shall the  Applicable  Margin be reduced at any time a Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is  continuing.  If the rating system of S&P or Moody's
shall change,  or if either such Rating Agency shall cease to be in the business
of rating corporate debt obligations,  the parties shall in good faith negotiate
appropriate  modifications to this definition.  Pending such  modifications  the
Applicable  Margin shall be determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this
definition.

                  "Approved   Investments"   means  investments  (a)  in  direct
         obligations  of, or obligations  the principal of and interest on which
         are  fully  guaranteed  by,  the  United  States  of  America,  (b)  in
         obligations  issued or guaranteed by any agency or  instrumentality  of
         the United States of America,  (c) in  certificates  of deposit of, and
         time  deposits  in,  any bank  organized  under the laws of the  United
         States of America or any State  thereof,  or (d) in short term notes or
         other  obligations  rated P-1 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P (or in the event
         that neither such Rating  Agency is no longer  providing  such service,
         any other similar nationally recognized rating service.)

                  "Arbitrage  Lines"  means  Indebtedness  of the Company or any
         Subsidiary having a maturity of 92 days or less representing borrowings
         from a bank or banks in which the  Company  or such  Subsidiary  has at
         least a like amount of funds on deposit,  which borrowings are incurred
         in the  ordinary  course  of  business  in  amounts  and  for  purposes
         consistent  with  past  business  practices  and  are  secured  only by
         Approved  Investments  purchased by the Company or such Subsidiary with
         the proceeds of such borrowings.



                                       5
<PAGE>

                  "Arranger" means BancAmerica  Robertson  Stephens,  a Delaware
         corporation.

                  "Assignee" has the meaning specified in subsection 10.08(a).

                  "Assignment  and  Acceptance"  has the  meaning  specified  in
         subsection 10.08(a).

                  "Attorney  Costs" means and includes all  reasonable  fees and
         disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel, the reasonable
         non-duplicative  allocated  cost of  internal  legal  services  and all
         reasonable disbursements of internal counsel.

                  "Bank" has the meaning  specified in the  introductory  clause
         hereto.

                  "Bankruptcy  Code" means the Federal  Bankruptcy Reform Act of
         1978 (11 U.S.C. ss.101, et seq.).

                  "Base Rate"  means,  for any day, the higher of: (a) 0.50% per
         annum above the Federal Funds Rate then in effect;  and (b) the rate of
         interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time
         by BofA in San Francisco,  California,  as its  "reference  rate." (The
         "reference  rate"  is a rate set by BofA  based  upon  various  factors
         including BofA's costs and desired return,  general economic conditions
         and other  factors,  and is used as a reference  point for pricing some
         loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.)

                  Any change in the reference  rate announced by BofA shall take
         effect at the opening of business  on the day  specified  in the public
         announcement of such change.

                  "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the
         Base Rate.

                  "BofA"  means  Bank of  America  National  Trust  and  Savings
         Association, a national banking association.

                  "Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of Loans of
         the same Type made to the Company on the same day by the Banks  ratably
         according to their respective Pro Rata Shares under Article II, and, in
         the case of Offshore Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.

                  "Borrowing  Date" means any date on which a  Borrowing  occurs
         under Section 2.03.

                  "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or
         other day on which  commercial  banks in Chicago,  New York City or San
         Francisco  are  authorized  or



                                       6
<PAGE>

         required by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day relates to
         any Offshore Rate Loan,  means such a day on which dealings are carried
         on in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market.

                  "Capital Adequacy Regulation" means any guideline,  request or
         directive of any central bank or other Governmental  Authority,  or any
         other law, rule or regulation,  whether or not having the force of law,
         in  each  case,  regarding  capital  adequacy  of  any  bank  or of any
         corporation controlling a bank.

                  "Capitalized Lease" of a Person means any lease of property by
         such Person as lessee which would be  capitalized on a balance sheet of
         such  Person   prepared  in  accordance   with   Agreement   Accounting
         Principles.

                  "Change of Control"  means,  other than in connection with the
         Stock  Acquisition,  (a) any acquisition by any Person,  or two or more
         Persons acting in concert, including without limitation any acquisition
         effected by means of any  transaction  contemplated by Section 7.03, of
         beneficial   ownership  (within  the  meaning  of  Rule  13d-3  of  the
         Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under the Exchange Act) of 20% or
         more of the  outstanding  shares of voting  stock of the Company or (b)
         during any period of 25 consecutive calendar months,  commencing on the
         date  of  this  Agreement,   the  ceasing  of  those  individuals  (the
         "Continuing  Directors")  who (i) were  directors of the Company on the
         first day of each such period or (ii) subsequently  became directors of
         the  Company  and whose  actual  election  or  initial  nomination  for
         election  subsequent  to that date was  approved  by a majority  of the
         Continuing  Directors then on the board of directors of the Company, to
         constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Company.

                  "Code"   means  the  Internal   Revenue  Code  of  1986,   and
         regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Commitment",  as to each Bank,  has the meaning  specified in
         Section 2.01.

                  "Commonwealth"   means   Commonwealth   Land  Title  Insurance
         Company, a Pennsylvania corporation.

                  "Company"  has the meaning  specified in the  introduction  to
         this Agreement. It is anticipated that the Company will change its name
         to  LandAmerica  Financial  Group,  Inc.  pursuant  to  the  terms  and
         conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

                  "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate  substantially in
         the form of Exhibit A hereto.



                                       7
<PAGE>
                  "Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person, any direct or
         indirect liability of that Person,  whether or not contingent,  with or
         without  recourse,  (a)  with  respect  to  any  Indebtedness,   lease,
         dividend,   letter  of  credit  or  other   obligation   (the  "primary
         obligations") of another Person (the "primary obligor"),  including any
         obligation  of that Person (i) to  purchase,  repurchase  or  otherwise
         acquire such primary  obligations  or any  security  therefor,  (ii) to
         advance  or provide  funds for the  payment  or  discharge  of any such
         primary obligation, or to maintain working capital or equity capital of
         the primary  obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency
         or any balance  sheet item,  level of income or financial  condition of
         the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services
         primarily  for the  purpose of assuring  the owner of any such  primary
         obligation  of the  ability of the primary  obligor to make  payment of
         such primary  obligation,  or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless
         the  holder of any such  primary  obligation  against  loss in  respect
         thereof (each, a "Guaranty Obligation"); (b) with respect to any Surety
         Instrument  issued for the  account of that  Person or as to which that
         Person is otherwise  liable for  reimbursement of drawings or payments;
         (c) to purchase any  materials,  supplies or other property from, or to
         obtain the services  of,  another  Person if the  relevant  contract or
         other  related  document or  obligation  requires that payment for such
         materials,  supplies or other property, or for such services,  shall be
         made  regardless  of whether  delivery of such  materials,  supplies or
         other  property is ever made or  tendered,  or such  services  are ever
         performed  or  tendered,  or (d) in respect of any Swap  Contract,  but
         excluding,  in each case, any obligation of any Insurance Subsidiary to
         pay any amount owing under any insurance  policy or contract  issued by
         such  Person in the  ordinary  course of  business.  The  amount of any
         Contingent  Obligation shall, in the case of Guaranty  Obligations,  be
         deemed  equal to the  stated  or  determinable  amount  of the  primary
         obligation in respect of which such Guaranty  Obligation is made or, if
         not stated or if  indeterminable,  the maximum  reasonably  anticipated
         liability  in  respect  thereof,  and in the case of  other  Contingent
         Obligations other than in respect of Swap Contracts,  shall be equal to
         the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof and, in
         the case of Contingent Obligations in respect of Swap Contracts,  shall
         be equal to the Swap Termination Value.

                  "Contractual   Obligation"   means,  as  to  any  Person,  any
         provision  of any security  issued by such Person or of any  agreement,
         undertaking,  contract,  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of  trust or other
         instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by
         which it or any of its property is bound.

                  "Conversion/Continuation  Date" means any date on which, under
         Section  2.04,  the Company (a)  converts  Loans of one Type to another
         Type,  or (b)  continues  as  Loans of the  same  Type,  but with a new
         Interest Period, Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such date.



                                       8
<PAGE>

                  "Debt"  means  all  Indebtedness  for money  borrowed  and all
         Capitalized  Lease  Obligations,  in each case of the  Company  and its
         Subsidiaries   on  a  consolidated   basis  provided,   however,   that
         Indebtedness  under  Arbitrage  Lines  and  Indebtedness  permitted  by
         Section 7.05 (h) shall not constitute "Debt".

                  "Debt to Total  Capitalization  Ratio" means, at any time, the
         ratio of (a) the consolidated  Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries
         at such time to (b) the sum of the consolidated Debt of the Company and
         its Subsidiaries at such time plus the Company's  Shareholders'  Equity
         at such time.

                  "Debt  Service  Coverage  Ratio"  means,  as of the end of any
         fiscal quarter,  the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) the aggregate  Maximum
         Dividend  Availability of the Insurance  Subsidiaries as of such fiscal
         quarter end; plus (ii) cash  dividends  paid by any  Subsidiary  (other
         than an Insurance Subsidiary) to the Company during the four (4) fiscal
         quarters then ended;  plus (iii) income before equity in  undistributed
         income of  Subsidiaries  (without  duplication  of  clauses  (a)(i) and
         (a)(ii) of this definition) on an unconsolidated  basis during the four
         (4)  fiscal  quarters  then  ended;  plus (iv) (I) the  Total  Interest
         Expense for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ended  multiplied by (II)
         the actual  marginal  federal  income tax rate then  applicable  to the
         Company;  plus (v) (I) the amount of goodwill  for which the Company is
         allowed to take a federal  income tax  deduction and which is amortized
         during the four (4) fiscal  quarters then ended  (assuming that amounts
         amortized or to be amortized during any fiscal year are ratably divided
         in such fiscal quarters) multiplied by (II) the actual marginal federal
         income tax rate then  applicable to the Company;  to (b) Total Interest
         Expense for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ended.

                  "Default"  means any  event or  circumstance  which,  with the
         giving of notice,  the lapse of time,  or both,  would (if not cured or
         otherwise remedied during such time) constitute an Event of Default.

                  "Dollars",  "dollars"  and "$" each mean  lawful  money of the
         United States.

                  "Eligible  Assignee"  means (a) a  commercial  bank  organized
         under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a
         combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000; (b) a commercial
         bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of
         the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the "OECD"),
         or a political  subdivision of any such country,  and having a combined
         capital and surplus of at least  $500,000,000,  provided that such bank
         is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States;  and
         (c) a Person that is primarily  engaged in the  business of  commercial
         banking and that is (i) a Subsidiary of a Bank,  (ii) a Subsidiary of a
         Person  of which a Bank is a  Subsidiary,  or (iii) a Person of which a
         Bank is a Subsidiary.



                                       9
<PAGE>
                  "Environmental  Claims" means all claims, however asserted, by
         any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability
         or  responsibility  for  violation  of any  Environmental  Law,  or for
         release or injury to the environment.

                  "Environmental  Laws" means all federal,  state or local laws,
         statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations,  ordinances and codes,
         together with all  administrative  orders,  directed duties,  requests,
         licenses,  authorizations  and permits  of, and  agreements  with,  any
         Governmental  Authorities,  in each  case  relating  to  environmental,
         health, safety and land use matters.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
         1974, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "ERISA  Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
         incorporated)  under common control with the Company within the meaning
         of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Section 414(m) and (o) of the
         Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

                  "ERISA  Event" means (a) a Reportable  Event with respect to a
         Pension Plan;  (b) a withdrawal  by the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate
         from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year
         in  which  it  was  a  substantial  employer  (as  defined  in  Section
         4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of  operations  which is treated as
         such a withdrawal  under  Section  4062(e) of ERISA;  (c) a complete or
         partial  withdrawal  by the  Company  or  any  ERISA  Affiliate  from a
         Multiemployer  Plan or  notification  that a  Multiemployer  Plan is in
         reorganization;  (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the
         treatment of a Plan  amendment as a  termination  under Section 4041 or
         4041A of  ERISA,  or the  commencement  of  proceedings  by the PBGC to
         terminate  a  Pension  Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan;  (e) an  event  or
         condition  which might  reasonably  be expected to  constitute  grounds
         under Section 4042 of ERISA for the  termination of, or the appointment
         of a trustee to administer,  any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or
         (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than
         PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA,  upon
         the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

                  "Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage" has the meaning specified in
         the definition of "Offshore Rate."

                  "Event of  Default"  means any of the events or  circumstances
         specified in Section 8.01.



                                       10
<PAGE>

                  "Execution Date" means November 7, 1997.

                  "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and
         the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Extension  Confirmation  Date" has the meaning  specified  in
         subsection 2.14(b).

                  "Extension  Confirmation  Notice" has the meaning specified in
         subsection 2.14(b).

                  "Extension  Request" has the meaning  specified in  subsection
         2.14(a).

                  "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  and
         any  Governmental   Authority   succeeding  to  any  of  its  principal
         functions.

                  "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate set forth in
         the  weekly  statistical  release  designated  as  H.15(519),   or  any
         successor  publication,  published  by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New
         York  (including  any such  successor,  "H.15(519)")  on the  preceding
         Business Day opposite the caption "Federal Funds  (Effective)";  or, if
         for  any  relevant  day  such  rate  is not so  published  on any  such
         preceding  Business  Day, the rate for such day will be the  arithmetic
         mean as determined  by the Agent of the rates for the last  transaction
         in overnight  Federal funds  arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City
         time) on that day by each of three  leading  brokers of  Federal  funds
         transactions in New York City selected by the Agent.

                  "Fee Letter" has the meaning specified in subsection 2.09(a).

                  "FRB"  means the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve
         System,  and  any  Governmental  Authority  succeeding  to  any  of its
         principal functions.

                  "Further  Taxes"  means any and all  present or future  taxes,
         levies, assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholdings or
         similar charges (including,  without  limitation,  net income taxes and
         franchise taxes), and all liabilities with respect thereto,  imposed by
         any  jurisdiction  on account of amounts  payable or paid  pursuant  to
         Section 3.01.

                  "GAAP" means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  set
         forth  from  time to time in the  opinions  and  pronouncements  of the
         Accounting  Principles  Board and the  American  Institute of Certified
         Public  Accountants and statements and  pronouncements of the Financial
         Accounting  Standards  Board (or  agencies  with  similar  functions of
         comparable   stature   and   authority   within  the  U.S.   accounting
         profession),  which  are  applicable  to  the  circumstances  as of the
         relevant date.




                                       11
<PAGE>

                  "Governmental  Authority" means any nation or government,  any
         state or other  political  subdivision  thereof,  any central  bank (or
         similar  monetary  or  regulatory   authority)   thereof,   any  entity
         exercising   executive,    legislative,    judicial,    regulatory   or
         administrative  functions  of or  pertaining  to  government,  and  any
         corporation  or other  entity  owned or  controlled,  through  stock or
         capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing,  including any
         board of insurance, insurance department or insurance commissioner.

                  "Guaranty   Obligation"  has  the  meaning  specified  in  the
         definition of "Contingent Obligation."

                  "Increased  Borrowing  Date"  means  the  date  of  the  first
         Borrowing  hereunder  as to which the  conditions  set forth in Section
         4.02 are satisfied.

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without  duplication,  (a)
         all  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money;  (b) all  obligations  issued,
         undertaken  or assumed as the  deferred  purchase  price of property or
         services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course
         of business on ordinary terms); (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or
         payment  obligations  with  respect  to  Surety  Instruments;  (d)  all
         obligations   evidenced  by  notes,   bonds,   debentures   or  similar
         instruments,  including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection
         with  the  acquisition  of  property,  assets  or  businesses;  (e) all
         indebtedness  created or arising  under any  conditional  sale or other
         title  retention  agreement,  or incurred as financing,  in either case
         with respect to property acquired by the Person (even though the rights
         and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of
         default are limited to repossession or sale of such property);  (f) all
         obligations  with respect to Capitalized  Leases;  (g) all indebtedness
         referred to in clauses  (a) through (f) above  secured by (or for which
         the holder of such  Indebtedness  has an existing right,  contingent or
         otherwise,  to be secured by) any Lien upon or in  property  (including
         accounts and contracts  rights) owned by such Person,  even though such
         Person  has not  assumed  or  become  liable  for the  payment  of such
         Indebtedness;   and  (h)  all  Guaranty   Obligations   in  respect  of
         indebtedness  or  obligations  of others of the  kinds  referred  to in
         clauses (a) through (g) above. "Indebtedness" shall not include amounts
         owing under insurance contracts issued by Insurance Subsidiaries in the
         ordinary course of business.  For all purposes of this  Agreement,  the
         Indebtedness  of any Person shall include all recourse  Indebtedness of
         any  partnership  or joint  venture in which  such  Person is a general
         partner or a joint venturer.

                  "Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Section
         10.05.

                  "Indemnified  Person"  has the  meaning  specified  in Section
         10.05.




                                       12
<PAGE>

                  "Independent  Auditor" has the meaning specified in subsection
         6.01(a).

                  "Ineligible   Securities"   has  the  meaning   specified   in
         subsection 7.07(b).

                  "Insolvency Proceeding" means, with respect to any Person, (a)
         any case,  action or proceeding  with respect to such Person before any
         court  or  other   Governmental   Authority   relating  to  bankruptcy,
         reorganization,  insolvency, liquidation, conservation, rehabilitation,
         receivership,  dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (b) any
         general   assignment   for  the  benefit  of  creditors,   composition,
         marshalling of assets for creditors,  or other,  similar arrangement in
         respect of its creditors  generally or any  substantial  portion of its
         creditors, in any case, undertaken under U.S. Federal, state or foreign
         law, including the Bankruptcy Code.

                  "Insurance  Subsidiary"  means  any  Subsidiary  which  has  a
         License  as  an  insurance  underwriter  to  engage  in  the  insurance
         business.

                  "Interest  Payment Date" means,  as to any Offshore Rate Loan,
         the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and, as to
         any Base Rate Loan,  the last  Business Day of each  calendar  quarter;
         provided,  however,  that if any Interest  Period for an Offshore  Rate
         Loan exceeds three  months,  the date that falls three months after the
         beginning of such Interest Period and after each Interest  Payment Date
         thereafter is also an Interest Payment Date.

                  "Interest  Period"  means,  as to any Offshore Rate Loan,  the
         period  commencing  on  the  Borrowing  Date  of  such  Loan  or on the
         Conversion/Continuation  Date on which  the Loan is  converted  into or
         continued as an Offshore  Rate Loan,  and ending on the date one,  two,
         three or six months thereafter as selected by the Company in its Notice
         of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation; provided, that:

                           (i)    if any Interest Period would  otherwise end on
                  a day that is not a Business Day,  that Interest  Period shall
                  be extended to the following Business Day unless the result of
                  such  extension  would be to carry such  Interest  Period into
                  another  calendar  month,  in which event such Interest Period
                  shall end on the preceding Business Day;

                           (ii)   any Interest Period  that  begins  on the last
                  Business Day of a calendar  month (or on a day for which there
                  is no numerically  corresponding  day in the calendar month at
                  the  end of  such  Interest  Period)  shall  end  on the  last
                  Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest
                  Period; and



                                       13
<PAGE>

                           (iii)  no Interest Period for any Loan shall  extend
                  beyond the Termination Date.

                  "Investments" has the meaning specified in Section 7.04.

                  "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental
         Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.

                  "Joint   Venture"   means   a   single-purpose    corporation,
         partnership,  limited liability company, joint venture or other similar
         legal  arrangement  (whether created by contract or conducted through a
         separate legal entity) now or hereafter formed by the Company or any of
         its  Subsidiaries  with  another  Person  in order to  conduct a common
         venture or enterprise with such Person.

                  "Lawyers  Title   Insurance"  means  Lawyers  Title  Insurance
         Corporation, a Virginia corporation.

                  "Lending  Office" means, as to any Bank, the office or offices
         of such Bank  specified  as its "Lending  Office" or "Domestic  Lending
         Office" or "Offshore  Lending Office",  as the case may be, on Schedule
         10.02  hereto,  or such  other  office or offices as such Bank may from
         time to time notify the Company and the Agent.

                  "License" means any license,  certificate of authority, permit
         or  other  authorization  which is  required  to be  obtained  from any
         Governmental  Authority in connection with the operation,  ownership or
         transaction of insurance business.

                  "Lien" means any security interest,  mortgage,  deed of trust,
         pledge,  hypothecation,  assignment,  charge  or  deposit  arrangement,
         encumbrance,  lien (statutory or other) or preferential  arrangement of
         any kind or nature  whatsoever  in respect of any  property  (including
         those created by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or
         other title  retention  agreement,  the  interest  of a lessor  under a
         capital  lease,  any  financing  lease  having  substantially  the same
         economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the filing of any financing
         statement  naming the owner of the asset to which such lien  relates as
         debtor,  under the Uniform  Commercial  Code or any comparable law) and
         any contingent or other agreement to provide any of the foregoing,  but
         not including the interest of a lessor under an operating lease.

                  "Loan"  means an  extension of credit by a Bank to the Company
         under  Article II, and may be a Base Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan
         (each, a "Type" of Loan).



                                       14
<PAGE>

                  "Loan  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  any Notes,  the Fee
         Letter and all other  documents  delivered  to the Agent or any Bank in
         connection herewith.

                  "Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as such term is defined in
         Regulation G, T, U or X of the FRB.

                  "Material  Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change
         in, or a  material  adverse  effect  upon,  the  operations,  business,
         properties,  condition  (financial  or otherwise) of the Company or the
         Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  taken  as  a  whole;  (b)  a  material
         impairment  of the  ability of the  Company  to perform  under any Loan
         Document and to avoid any Event of Default;  or (c) a material  adverse
         effect upon the legality,  validity,  binding effect or  enforceability
         against the Company of any Loan Document.

                  "Material  Insurance  Subsidiary" means a Material  Subsidiary
         which is an Insurance Subsidiary.

                  "Material  Subsidiary"  means, at any time, (a) any Subsidiary
         which at such time either (i) has total assets aggregating in excess of
         2.5% of the consolidated  assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or
         (ii) accounts for in excess of 5% of the consolidated Net Income of the
         Company  and its  Subsidiaries  or (b) has been  designated  a Material
         Subsidiary by the Company  pursuant to Section 6.13.  All amounts to be
         determined  for  purposes of this  definition  shall be  determined  in
         accordance with GAAP.

                  "Maximum  Dividend  Availability"  means,  with respect to any
         Insurance  Subsidiary  as of the end of any fiscal  quarter,  an amount
         which does not exceed the greater  (or,  to the extent  required by the
         following   proviso,   the  lesser)  of  (a)  10%  of  such   Insurance
         Subsidiary's surplus as regards policyholders (determined in accordance
         with  SAP) as of the  end of the  most  recently  ended  calendar  year
         (including  any calendar year ending on the date of  determination)  or
         (b) the net income  determined in accordance  with SAP  (calculated  as
         required by the insurance  commissioner of the jurisdiction of domicile
         of such Insurance  Subsidiary  for the purpose of  calculating  maximum
         dividend   availability  in  such   jurisdiction)   of  such  Insurance
         Subsidiary  for the  period of four (4)  fiscal  quarters  then  ended;
         provided,  however, that if the laws of the jurisdiction of domicile of
         such Insurance Subsidiary determine  non-extraordinary dividends on the
         basis of the lesser of amounts  determined  by reference to (i) surplus
         as regards  policyholders  and (ii) net income,  then Maximum  Dividend
         Availability  for such  Insurance  Subsidiary  shall be  determined  by
         reference to the lesser of the amounts set forth in (a) and (b) above.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., together with
         any Person succeeding  thereto by merger,  consolidation or acquisition
         of all or substantially all of its assets,  including substantially all
         of its business of rating securities.



                                       15
<PAGE>

                  "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer  plan", within the
         meaning of Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA,  to which the  Company or any
         ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions
         or,  during the  preceding  three  calendar  years,  has made,  or been
         obligated to make, contributions.

                  "NAIC"   means   the   National   Association   of   Insurance
         Commissioners or any successor  thereto,  or in absence of the National
         Association of Insurance  Commissioners  or such  successor,  any other
         association,   agency  or  other  organization   performing   advisory,
         coordination  or other  like  functions  among  insurance  departments,
         insurance  commissioners  and similar  Governmental  Authorities of the
         various  states of the United States toward the promotion of uniformity
         in the practices of such Governmental Authorities.

                  "Net Income" means, for any Person for any computation period,
         cumulative  net income  earned  during  such  period as  determined  in
         accordance with GAAP.

                  "Note" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

                  "Notice of Borrowing" means a notice in substantially the form
         of Exhibit B hereto.

                  "Notice   of   Conversion/Continuation"   means  a  notice  in
         substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.

                  "Obligations"   means  all   advances,   debts,   liabilities,
         obligations, covenants and duties arising under any Loan Document owing
         by the  Company to any Bank,  the  Agent,  or any  Indemnified  Person,
         whether direct or indirect  (including  those acquired by  assignment),
         absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter
         arising.

                  "Offshore Rate" means, for any Interest  Period,  with respect
         to Offshore Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing,  the rate
         of  interest  per  annum  (rounded  upward  to the next  1/16th  of 1%)
         determined by the Agent as follows:

                  Offshore Rate =                    IBOR
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

         where,



                                       16
<PAGE>

                           "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day for
                  any Interest Period the maximum reserve percentage  (expressed
                  as a  decimal,  rounded  upward to the next  1/100th of 1%) in
                  effect on such day  (whether  or not  applicable  to any Bank)
                  under  regulations  issued  from  time  to time by the FRB for
                  determining  the maximum  reserve  requirement  (including any
                  emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement)
                  with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
                  "Eurocurrency liabilities"); and

                           "IBOR"   means  the  rate  of   interest   per  annum
                  determined  by the Agent as the rate at which dollar  deposits
                  in the  approximate  amount of BofA's  Offshore  Rate Loan for
                  such  Interest  Period would be offered by BofA's Grand Cayman
                  Branch,  Grand Cayman  B.W.I.  (or such other office as may be
                  designated  for such  purpose by BofA),  to major banks in the
                  offshore   dollar   interbank   market  at  their  request  at
                  approximately  11:00 a.m.  (New York City  time) two  Business
                  Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

                           The Offshore Rate shall be adjusted  automatically as
                  to  all  Offshore  Rate  Loans  then  outstanding  as  of  the
                  effective  date  of  any  change  in  the  Eurodollar  Reserve
                  Percentage.

                  "Offshore  Rate Loan" means any Loan that bears interest based
         on the Offshore Rate.

                  "Organization  Documents"  means,  for  any  corporation,  its
         certificate or articles of incorporation,  its bylaws,  any certificate
         of  determination  or  instrument  relating to the rights of  preferred
         shareholders of such corporation,  and any shareholder rights agreement
         relating to the rights of the shareholders of such corporation.

                  "Originator" has the meaning specified in subsection 10.08(d).

                  "Other  Taxes"  means any  present or future  stamp,  court or
         documentary  taxes or any other  excise or property  taxes,  charges or
         similar  levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the
         execution,  delivery,  performance,  enforcement or registration of, or
         otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

                  "Participant"   has  the  meaning   specified  in   subsection
         10.08(d).

                  "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,  or any
         Governmental  Authority  succeeding to any of its  principal  functions
         under ERISA.



                                       17
<PAGE>

                  "Pension  Plan"  means a pension  plan (as  defined in Section
         3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA which the Company sponsors,
         maintains,  or to which it makes,  is making,  or is  obligated to make
         contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described
         in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made  contributions at any time during
         the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

                  "Permitted Liens" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

                  "Permitted Swap Obligations" means all obligations (contingent
         or  otherwise)  of the  Company or any  Subsidiary  existing or arising
         under Swap Contracts;  provided, that each of the following criteria is
         satisfied:  (a) such  obligations  are (or were)  entered  into by such
         Person in the  ordinary  course of business for the purpose of directly
         mitigating  risks  associated with  liabilities,  commitments or assets
         held or reasonably  anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value
         of securities  issued by such Person in  conjunction  with a securities
         repurchase  program not  otherwise  prohibited  hereunder,  and not for
         purposes of speculation  or taking a "market  view";  and (b) such Swap
         Contracts do not contain (i) any "walk-away"  provision exonerating the
         non-defaulting   party  from  its   obligation   to  make  payments  on
         outstanding transactions to the defaulting party, or (ii) any provision
         creating  or  permitting  the  declaration  of  an  event  of  default,
         termination  event or similar event upon the  occurrence of an Event of
         Default  hereunder  (other  than an Event of Default  under  subsection
         8.01(a)).

                  "Person"  means  an  individual,   partnership,   corporation,
         limited liability company,  business trust, joint stock company, trust,
         unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.

                  "Plan"  means an employee  benefit plan (as defined in Section
         3(3) of ERISA) which the Company  sponsors or maintains or to which the
         Company makes,  is making,  or is obligated to make  contributions  and
         includes any Pension Plan.

                  "Pro  Rata  Share"  means,  as to any  Bank (a) at any time at
         which the Commitments  remain  outstanding,  the percentage  equivalent
         (expressed as a decimal,  rounded to the ninth  decimal  place) at such
         time of such Bank's Commitment  divided by the combined  Commitments of
         all  Banks,  and (b)  after the  termination  of the  Commitments,  the
         percentage  equivalent  (expressed  as a decimal,  rounded to the ninth
         decimal  place) at such  time of the  principal  amount of such  Bank's
         outstanding  Loans  divided by the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
         outstanding Loans of all the Banks.

                  "Quarterly  Statement" means the quarterly statutory financial
         statement  of any  Insurance  Subsidiary  required to be filed with the
         insurance  commissioner  (or similar  authority) of its jurisdiction of
         incorporation  or, if no specific  form is so required,  in the form of
         financial statements permitted by such insurance  commissioner (or such
         similar 



                                       18
<PAGE>

         authority)  to  be  used  for  filing  quarterly   statutory  financial
         statements  and  shall  contain  the  type  of  financial   information
         permitted by such insurance commissioner (or such similar authority) to
         be disclosed  therein,  together  with all exhibits or schedules  filed
         therewith.

                  "Rating  Agency"  means  either  S&P or  Moody's or such other
         rating agency as may in the future be agreed to by the parties pursuant
         to the penultimate sentence of the definition of Applicable Margin.

                  "Relocation  Subsidiaries"  means  Agronaut  and  Commonwealth
         Relocation Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.

                  "Reportable  Event"  means,  any of the  events  set  forth in
         Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder,  other than any
         such event for which the 30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been
         waived in regulations issued by the PBGC.

                  "Required Banks" means at any time Banks then holding at least
         66-2/3% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or,
         if no such principal amount is then  outstanding,  Banks then having at
         least 66-2/3% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments.

                  "Requirement  of  Law"  means,  as  to  any  Person,  any  law
         (statutory or common),  treaty,  rule or regulation or determination of
         an arbitrator or of a Governmental  Authority,  in each case applicable
         to or binding  upon the Person or any of its  property  or to which the
         Person or any of its property is subject.

                  "Responsible  Officer" means the chief executive officer,  the
         president,  the chief  financial  officer,  the  treasurer or assistant
         treasurer of the Company.

                  "S&P" means  Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group,  a division of
         McGraw-Hill,  Inc.,  together  with any  Person  succeeding  thereto by
         merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of its
         assets,   including   substantially  all  of  its  business  of  rating
         securities.

                  "SAP" means,  with respect to any  Insurance  Subsidiary,  the
         statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance
         commissioner  (or other similar  authority) in the jurisdiction of such
         Person for the  preparation of annual  statements  and other  financial
         reports by insurance  companies of the same type as such Person,  which
         are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.

                  "SEC" means the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  or any
         Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.



                                       19
<PAGE>

                  "Shareholders'  Equity"  means  the  aggregate   shareholders'
         equity of the Company determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Statutory  Surplus"  means,  with  respect  to any  Insurance
         Subsidiary at any time, its statutory  capital and surplus at such time
         as determined in accordance with SAP  ("Liabilities,  Surplus and Other
         Funds Statement," page 3, line 26 of the Annual Statement).

                  "Stock  Acquisition"  means the  acquisition by the Company of
         Commonwealth and  Transnation,  pursuant to the terms and conditions of
         the Stock Purchase Agreement.

                  "Stock Purchase  Agreement"  means that certain Stock Purchase
         Agreement dated as of August 20, 1997 by and among the Company, Lawyers
         Title Insurance, Reliance Insurance Company, a Pennsylvania corporation
         and Reliance Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

                  "Subsidiary" of a Person means any  corporation,  association,
         partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business
         entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock, membership interests
         or  other  equity   interests  (in  the  case  of  Persons  other  than
         corporations),  is owned or  controlled  directly or  indirectly by the
         Person,  or one  or  more  of the  Subsidiaries  of  the  Person,  or a
         combination  thereof and where the context references a "Subsidiary" of
         the Company shall include  Agronaut so long as Agronaut is permitted by
         applicable GAAP and SEC accounting procedures to be consolidated on the
         financial  statements of the Company and so long as the Company owns or
         controls directly or indirectly 50% or more of the membership interests
         of Agronaut. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires,  references
         hereof to a "Subsidiary" refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Surety  Instruments"  means all letters of credit  (including
         standby  and  commercial),   banker's  acceptances,   bank  guaranties,
         shipside bonds, surety bonds and similar instruments.

                  "Swap  Contract"  means  any  agreement,  whether  or  not  in
         writing,  relating to any transaction  that is a rate swap, basis swap,
         forward rate transaction,  commodity swap, commodity option,  equity or
         equity index swap or option,  bond, note or bill option,  interest rate
         option,  forward  foreign  exchange  transaction,  cap, collar or floor
         transaction,   currency  swap,   cross-currency  rate  swap,  swaption,
         currency option or any other, similar transaction (including any option
         to  enter  into  any  of  the  foregoing)  or  any  combination  of the
         foregoing,  and, unless the context  otherwise  clearly  requires,  any
         master agreement relating to or governing any or all of the foregoing.



                                       20
<PAGE>

                  "Swap Termination  Value" means, in respect of any one or more
         Swap  Contracts,  after  taking into  account the effect of any legally
         enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts,  (a) for
         any date on or after the date such Swap  Contracts have been closed out
         and  termination  value(s)  determined  in accordance  therewith,  such
         termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced
         in clause (a) the amount(s)  determined as the mark-to-market  value(s)
         for such Swap Contracts, as determined by the Company based upon one or
         more mid-market or other readily available  quotations  provided by any
         recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include any Bank).

                  "Taxes"  means any and all  present or future  taxes,  levies,
         assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholdings or similar
         charges,  and all liabilities with respect thereto,  excluding,  in the
         case of each Bank and the  Agent,  respectively,  taxes  imposed  on or
         measured  by its net  income  by the  jurisdiction  (or  any  political
         subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Bank or the Agent, as
         the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office.

                  "Termination Date" means November 7, 2002, as such date may be
         extended pursuant to Section 2.14.

                  "Total  Interest  Expense"  means,  for any period,  an amount
         equal  to  the  aggregate   interest  expense  of  the  Company  on  an
         unconsolidated basis during such period,  determined in accordance with
         GAAP.

                  "Transaction  Documents"  means  the  Loan  Documents  and the
         Acquisition Documents.

                  "Transnation"  means Transnation Title Insurance  Company,  an
         Arizona corporation.

                  "Type" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Loan."

                  "Unfunded  Pension  Liability"  means  the  excess of a Plan's
         benefit  liabilities  under  Section  4001(a)(16)  of  ERISA,  over the
         current value of that Plan's assets,  determined in accordance with the
         assumptions  used for funding the Pension Plan  pursuant to Section 412
         of the Code for the applicable plan year.

                  "United  States"  and "U.S."  each means the United  States of
         America.



                                       21
<PAGE>

                  "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary"  means  any  corporation  or  other
         entity in which (other than  directors'  qualifying  shares required by
         law) 100% of the capital  stock of each class  having  ordinary  voting
         power, and 100% of the capital stock of every other class, in each case
         (or,  in the  case  of  Persons  other  than  corporations,  membership
         interests  or other  equity  interests),  at the  time as of which  any
         determination is being made, is owned,  beneficially and of record,  by
         the Company, or by one or more of the other Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries,
         or both.

         1.02  Other Interpretive Provisions.  (a) The meanings of defined terms
are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

                  (b)    The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder"  and  similar
words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular  provision of
this Agreement; and subsection,  Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to
this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

                  (c)    (i) The term "documents" includes any and all 
         instruments, documents, agreements,  certificates,  indentures, notices
         and other writings, however evidenced.

                         (ii) The term "including" is not limiting and means 
         "including without limitation."

                         (iii) In the  computation  of  periods  of time  from a
         specified date to a later  specified  date, the word "from" means "from
         and  including";   the  words  "to"  and  "until"  each  mean  "to  but
         excluding", and the word "through" means "to and including."

                  (d)    Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) 
references  to  agreements  (including  this  Agreement)  and other  contractual
instruments  shall be deemed to  include  all  subsequent  amendments  and other
modifications  thereto,  but  only  to the  extent  such  amendments  and  other
modifications  are not  prohibited by the terms of any Loan  Document,  and (ii)
references  to any statute or  regulation  are to be construed as including  all
statutory  and  regulatory  provisions   consolidating,   amending,   replacing,
supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

                  (e)    The captions  and  headings  of this  Agreement are for
convenience  of reference only and shall not affect the  interpretation  of this
Agreement.

                  (f)    This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several
different  limitations,  tests or  measurements  to regulate the same or similar
matters.  All such limitations,  tests and measurements are cumulative and shall
each be performed in accordance  with their terms.  Unless  otherwise  expressly
provided,  any  reference  to any  action  of the  Agent or the  Banks by way of
consent, approval or waiver shall be deemed modified by the phrase "in its/their
sole discretion."



                                       22
<PAGE>

                  (g)    This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the 
result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Agent, the
Company and the other parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly,
they shall not be construed against the Banks or the Agent merely because of the
Agent's or Banks' involvement in their preparation.

         1.03  Accounting Principles.  (a) Unless the context  otherwise clearly
requires,  all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed,
and all financial  computations  required under this Agreement shall be made, in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

                  (b)    References herein to "fiscal year" and "fiscal quarter"
refer to such fiscal periods of the Company.

                  (c)    References herein in particular columns, lines or 
sections of any Person's Annual Statement shall be deemed, where appropriate, to
be  references  to the  corresponding  column,  line or section of such Person's
Quarterly Statement,  or if no such corresponding column, line or section exists
or if any  report  form  changes,  then  to the  corresponding  item  referenced
thereby.  In the event the  columns,  lines or sections of the Annual  Statement
referenced herein are changed or renumbered, all such references shall be deemed
references to such column, line or section as so renumbered or changed.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

         2.01  Amounts and Terms of Commitments.  Each Bank severally agrees, on
the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  to make loans to the Company from
time to time on any  Business Day during the period from the  Execution  Date to
the  Termination  Date  in an  aggregate  amount  not  to  exceed  at  any  time
outstanding  the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01 hereto (such  amount,  as the
same may be reduced under Section 2.05 or as a result of one or more assignments
under Section 10.08, the Bank's "Commitment");  provided,  however,  that, after
giving  effect  to  any  Borrowing,   the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  all
outstanding Loans shall not at any time exceed the combined Commitments.  Within
the  limits of each  Bank's  Commitment,  and  subject  to the  other  terms and
conditions  hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under
Section 2.06 hereof and reborrow under this Section 2.01.

         2.02  Notes;  Loan  Accounts.  (a) The Loans made by each Bank shall be
evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by such Bank in the
ordinary  course of business.  The loan  accounts or records  maintained  by the
Agent and each Bank shall be conclusive  absent  manifest error of the amount of
the  Loans  made by the  Banks to the  Company  and the  interest



                                       23
<PAGE>

and  payments  thereon.  Any failure so to record or any error in doing so shall
not, however,  limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Company hereunder
to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loans.

                  (b)    The Company  shall,  upon the  request of any Bank made
through the Agent,  issue to each Bank a note in the form of Exhibit D hereto (a
"Note"). Each Bank may, instead of or in addition to maintaining a loan account,
endorse on the  schedules  annexed to its Note the date,  amount and maturity of
each Loan made by it and the  amount of each  payment of  principal  made by the
Company with respect  thereto.  Each such Bank is irrevocably  authorized by the
Company to endorse its Note(s) and each Bank's record shall be conclusive absent
manifest  error;  provided,  however,  that the failure of a Bank to make, or an
error in making,  a notation thereon with respect to any Loan shall not limit or
otherwise affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or under any such Note
to such Bank.  Subsequent  to the change of the  Company's  name to  LandAmerica
Financial  Group,  Inc.,  the  Company  will,  upon the request of any Bank made
through the Agent, reissue such Bank's Note reflecting such new name.

         2.03  Procedure for Borrowing. (a) Each Borrowing shall be made upon 
the Company's irrevocable written notice delivered to the Agent in the form of a
Notice of Borrowing  (which  notice must be received by the Agent prior to 11:00
a.m. Chicago time) (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested  Borrowing
Date, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans, and (ii) one (1) Business Day prior to
the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Base Rate Loans, specifying:

                           (A)    the amount of the Borrowing, which shall be in
                  an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 (provided,  however,
                  that  prior to the  Increased  Borrowing  Date such  aggregate
                  minimum  amount  shall  be  $3,000,000)  or  any  multiple  of
                  $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

                           (B)    the requested Borrowing Date, which shall be a
                  Business Day;

                           (C)    the Type of Loans comprising the Borrowing; 
                  and

                           (D)    the duration of the Interest Period applicable
                  to such  Loans  included  in such  notice.  If the  Notice  of
                  Borrowing fails to specify the duration of the Interest Period
                  for any  Borrowing  comprised  of Offshore  Rate  Loans,  such
                  Interest Period shall be three months.

                  (b)    The Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt
of any Notice of  Borrowing  and of the amount of such  Bank's Pro Rata Share of
that Borrowing.



                                       24
<PAGE>

                  (c)    Each Bank will make the amount of its Pro Rata Share of
each  Borrowing  available  to the Agent for the  account of the  Company at the
Agent's  Payment  Office  by 11:00  a.m.  Chicago  time) on the  Borrowing  Date
requested  by the  Company in funds  immediately  available  to the  Agent.  The
proceeds  of all such Loans will then be made  available  to the  Company by the
Agent as directed by the Company through written notification to the Agent.

                  (d)    After giving effect to any Borrowing,  unless the Agent
shall otherwise consent,  there may not be more than five (5) different Interest
Periods in effect in respect of all Loans together then outstanding.

                  (e)    The Company hereby authorizes the Banks and the Agent 
to accept Notices of Borrowing based on telephonic notices made by any person or
persons the Agent  believes to be a person or persons  designated  in writing by
the Company as authorized to give Notices of  Borrowing.  The Company  agrees to
deliver promptly to the Agent a written  confirmation of each telephonic notice,
signed by a  Responsible  Officer.  If the written  confirmation  differs in any
material  respect from the action taken by the Agent and the Banks,  the records
of the Agent and the Banks shall govern absent manifest error.

         2.04  Conversion and  Continuation  Elections for  Borrowings.  (a) The
Company may, upon  irrevocable  written  notice to the Agent in accordance  with
subsection 2.04(b):

                         (i)    elect, as of any Business Day, in the case of 
         Base  Rate  Loans,  or as of the  last day of the  applicable  Interest
         Period,  in the case of Offshore Rate Loans,  to convert any such Loans
         (or any part thereof in an amount not less than  $5,000,000  (or, prior
         to the Increased Borrowing Date,  $3,000,000) or that is in an integral
         multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) into Loans of any other Type;
         or

                         (ii)   elect, as of the  last  day  of  the  applicable
         Interest Period, to continue any Loans having Interest Periods expiring
         on such day (or any part thereof in an amount not less than  $5,000,000
         (or, prior to the Increased Borrowing Date, $3,000,000),  or that is in
         an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof);

provided,  that if at any time the  aggregate  amount of Offshore  Rate Loans in
respect of any Borrowing is reduced,  by payment,  prepayment,  or conversion of
part thereof to be less than  $5,000,000  (or, prior to the Increased  Borrowing
Date, $3,000,000) such Offshore Rate Loans shall automatically convert into Base
Rate Loans, and on and after such date the right of the Company to continue such
Loans as, and convert such Loans into, Offshore Rate Loans shall terminate.

                  (b)    The    Company    shall    deliver    a    Notice    of
Conversion/Continuation  to be  received  by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.
Chicago  time)  at  least  (i)  three  (3)  Business  Days



                                       25
<PAGE>

in advance of the Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted
into or  continued  as Offshore  Rate Loans;  and (ii) one (1)  Business  Day in
advance of the  Conversion/Continuation  Date,  if the Loans are to be converted
into Base Rate Loans, specifying:

                           (A)    the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;

                           (B)    the aggregate  amount of Loans to be converted
                  or continued;

                           (C)    the Type of Loans resulting from the  proposed
                  conversion or continuation; and

                           (D)    in the case of conversions into Offshore  Rate
                  Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period.

                  (c)    If upon the expiration of any Interest  Period 
applicable to Offshore Rate Loans, the Company has failed to select timely a new
Interest  Period to be applicable to such Offshore Rate Loans, or if any Default
or Event of Default then exists,  the Company shall be deemed to have elected to
convert  such  Offshore  Rate  Loans into Base Rate  Loans  effective  as of the
expiration date of such Interest Period.

                  (d)    The Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt
of a Notice of  Conversion/Continuation,  or, if no timely notice is provided by
the  Company,  the Agent will  promptly  notify  each Bank of the details of any
automatic  conversion.  All conversions and continuations  shall be made ratably
according  to the  respective  outstanding  principal  amounts of the Loans with
respect to which the notice was given held by each Bank.

                  (e)    Unless the Required Banks otherwise consent, during the
existence of a Default or Event of Default,  the Company may not elect to have a
Loan converted into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan.

                  (f)    After giving effect to any conversion or  continuation
of Loans,  unless the Agent shall otherwise consent,  there may not be more than
five (5) different  Interest  Periods in effect in respect of all Loans together
then outstanding.

                  (g)    The Company hereby  authorizes the Banks and the Agent
to accept Notices of Conversion/Continuation based on telephonic notices made by
any person or persons the Agent believes to be a person or persons designated in
writing by the Company as authorized to give Notices of Conversion/Continuation.
The Company agrees to deliver  promptly to the Agent a written  confirmation  of
each  telephonic  notice  signed  by  a  Responsible  Officer.  If  the  written
confirmation  differs in any material respect from the action taken by the Agent
and the  Banks,  the  records  of the Agent and the Banks  shall  govern  absent
manifest error.



                                       26
<PAGE>

         2.05  Reduction of Commitments. (a) The Company may, upon not less than
five (5) Business Days' prior written notice to the Agent permanently reduce the
Commitments  by an aggregate  minimum  amount of  $5,000,000  or any multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess  thereof;  unless,  after giving effect  thereto and to any
prepayments  of Loans made on the effective date thereof,  the then  outstanding
principal  amount  of  the  Loans  would  exceed  the  amount  of  the  combined
Commitments then in effect.  If any prepayment  results pursuant to this Section
2.05,  then the Company shall be subject to any funding loss pursuant to Section
3.04.

                  (b)    The Commitments shall be automatically  and permanently
reduced  by (i) an  amount  equal  to  100%  of the  net  cash  proceeds  of any
Indebtedness incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness
permitted by Section  7.05(a)  through (h), such  reduction to be effective upon
the receipt thereof by the Company or its Subsidiaries; and (ii) an amount equal
to 75% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or its Subsidiaries from
any equity  issuance  (other  than any  equity  issuance  pursuant  to the Stock
Acquisition,  including any related "green shoe" issuance), such reduction to be
effective  in either  case upon the  receipt  of such net cash  proceeds  by the
Company or its  Subsidiaries.  Upon any such reduction,  the Company will prepay
the Loans to the extent the outstanding Loans would otherwise exceed the reduced
amount of the  combined  Commitments.  Any such  prepayment  shall be subject to
Section 3.04. To the extent that any  reduction of the  Commitments  pursuant to
this Section  would  necessitate a prepayment of the Loans prior to the last day
of the  relevant  Interest  Period,  then  such net cash  proceeds  in an amount
sufficient to make any prepayment which would have been immediately required but
for this sentence shall be deposited into a blocked  collateral account which is
established pursuant to documentation  reasonably  satisfactory to the Agent and
is subject to the  exclusive  control of the Agent and,  upon the  occurrence of
such  reduction of the  Commitments  amounts in such account shall be applied to
any required  prepayments of the Loans with any remaining balance being returned
to the Company.

                  (c)    Once reduced in accordance with this Section  2.05, the
Commitments  may not be  increased.  Any reduction of the  Commitments  shall be
applied to each Bank according to its Pro Rata Share.  All accrued facility fees
to, but not including the effective date of any reduction of Commitments,  shall
be paid on the effective date of such reduction.

                  (d)    The Commitments   shall  also  be   automatically   and
permanently  reduced to zero upon the  occurrence of a Change in Control  unless
the Required Banks have otherwise waived in writing such reduction.

         2.06  Prepayments. (a) Mandatory Prepayments upon Change in Control. At
least ten (10) Business Days prior to the consummation of any transaction  which
would cause a Change in Control,  the Company shall notify (a "Change in Control
Notice") the Agent and each Bank of such expected transaction,  including within
such Change in Control Notice the expected closing



                                       27
<PAGE>

date of such  transaction.  The Company shall also (i) promptly notify the Agent
of the  occurrence  of a Change in Control and (ii) unless such  prepayment  has
been  waived  in  writing  by the  Required  Banks,  contemporaneously  with the
occurrence  of such Change in Control,  the Company  shall prepay the  aggregate
amount of all Loans and  accrued  interest  and fees  outstanding  on such date.
Section 3.04 shall be applicable to any such prepayment.

                  (b)    Optional Prepayments. Subject to Section 3.04, the 
Company  may,  at any time or from time to time,  upon not less  than  three (3)
Business  Days'  irrevocable  notice to the Agent,  in respect of Offshore  Rate
Loans,  and one (1) Business Day's  irrevocable  written notice to the Agent, in
respect of Base Rate Loans, ratably prepay Loans in whole or in part, in minimum
amounts of $5,000,000 (or, prior to the Increased Borrowing Date, $3,000,000) or
any multiple of $1,000,000 in excess  thereof.  Such notice of prepayment  shall
specify  the date and amount of such  prepayment  and the Type(s) of Loans to be
prepaid.  The Agent will  promptly  notify  each Bank of its receipt of any such
notice, and of such Bank's Pro Rata Share of such prepayment.  If such notice is
given by the Company,  the Company  shall make such  prepayment  and the payment
amount  specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date  specified
therein,  together with accrued interest to each such date on the amount prepaid
and any amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04.

         2.07  Repayment. The Company shall repay to the Banks on the 
Termination  Date the aggregate  principal  amount of Loans  outstanding on such
date.

         2.08  Interest.  (a) Each Loan shall bear  interest on the  outstanding
principal amount thereof from the applicable  Borrowing Date at a rate per annum
equal to the Offshore Rate plus the  Applicable  Margin or the Base Rate, as the
case may be (and  subject to the  Company's  right to convert to other  Types of
Loans under Section 2.04).

                  (b)    Interest on each Loan shall be paid in  arrears on each
Interest Payment Date. Interest shall also be paid on the date of any prepayment
of Loans  under  Section  2.06 for the  portion of the Loans so prepaid and upon
payment (including  prepayment) in full thereof and, during the existence of any
Event of Default,  interest  shall be paid on demand of the Agent at the request
or with the consent of the Required Banks.

                  (c)    Notwithstanding subsection  (a) of  this  Section 2.08,
during the pendency of any Event of Default,  the Company agrees to pay interest
on the  Loans,  after as well as before  any entry of  judgment  thereon  to the
extent  permitted by law,  payable on demand,  at a  fluctuating  rate per annum
equal to the Base Rate plus 2.0%.

                  (d)    Anything  herein  to the  contrary notwithstanding, the
obligations  of the  Company  to any  Bank  hereunder  shall be  subject  to the
limitation  that  payments of interest  shall not be required for any period for
which  interest  is computed  hereunder,  to the extent (but only to



                                       28
<PAGE>

the extent) that contracting for or receiving such payment by such Bank would be
contrary to the  provisions  of any law  applicable  to such Bank  limiting  the
highest  rate of  interest  that may be  lawfully  contracted  for,  charged  or
received  by such  Bank,  and in such  event  the  Company  shall  pay such Bank
interest at the highest rate permitted by applicable law.

         2.09  Fees.  (a) Underwriting,  Agency Fees.  The Company  shall pay an
underwriting fee to BofA for BofA's own account,  and shall pay an agency fee to
the Agent for the Agent's own account, as required by the letter agreement ("Fee
Letter") between the Company, the Arranger and Agent dated August 15, 1997.

                  (b)    Facility  Fees. The Company shall pay to the Agent for 
the account of each Bank a facility fee on the amount of such Bank's Commitment,
computed  on a  quarterly  basis in  arrears  on the last  Business  Day of each
calendar  quarter,  equal to the  Applicable  Margin  times  the  average  daily
Commitments for that quarter as calculated by the Agent. Such facility fee shall
accrue  from the  Execution  Date to the  Termination  Date and shall be due and
payable  quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar  quarter
commencing  on December 31, 1997 through the  Termination  Date,  with the final
payment to be made on the Termination  Date;  provided,  that in connection with
any reduction or  termination  of  Commitments  under Section 2.05,  the accrued
facility fee calculated for the period ending on such date shall also be paid on
the date of such reduction or termination,  with the following quarterly payment
being  calculated on the basis of the period from such  reduction or termination
date  to such  quarterly  payment  date.  The  facility  fees  provided  in this
subsection  shall  accrue at all times  after the  above-mentioned  commencement
date,  including at any time during which one or more  conditions  in Article IV
are not met.

         2.10  Computation of Fees and Interest. (a) All computations of 
interest  for Base  Rate  Loans  when  the Base  Rate is  determined  by  BofA's
"reference rate" shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the
case may be,  and  actual  days  elapsed.  All  other  computations  of fees and
interest  shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days  elapsed.
Interest and fees shall accrue during each period during which  interest or such
fees are computed from the first day thereof to the last day thereof.

                  (b)    Each  determination of an interest rate by the Agent 
shall be  conclusive  and binding on the Company and the Banks in the absence of
manifest  error.  The Agent  will,  at the  request of the  Company or any Bank,
deliver to the Company or the Bank, as the case may be, a statement  showing the
quotations  used by the Agent in determining any interest rate and the resulting
interest rate.

         2.11  Payments  by the  Company.  (a)  All  payments  to be made by the
Company shall be made without  set-off,  recoupment or  counterclaim.  Except as
otherwise  expressly  provided herein, all payments by the Company shall be made
to the Agent for the account of the Banks at



                                       29
<PAGE>

the Agent's  Payment  Office,  and shall be made in dollars  and in  immediately
available  funds,  no later than 1:00 p.m.  (Chicago time) on the date specified
herein.  The Agent will promptly  distribute to each Bank its Pro Rata Share (or
other  applicable  share as expressly  provided  herein) of such payment in like
funds as  received.  Any  payment  received  by the Agent  later  than 3:00 p.m.
(Chicago  time) shall be deemed to have been received on the following  Business
Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

                  (b)    Subject to the  provisions  set forth in the definition
of "Interest  Period" herein,  whenever any payment is due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the  computation of interest
or fees, as the case may be.

                  (c)    Unless the Agent receives notice from the Company prior
to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks that the  Company  will not
make such  payment in full as and when  required,  the Agent may assume that the
Company has made such  payment in full to the Agent on such date in  immediately
available  funds and the Agent may (but shall not be so  required),  in reliance
upon such  assumption,  distribute to each Bank on such due date an amount equal
to the amount then due such Bank.  If and to the extent the Company has not made
such payment in full to the Agent,  each Bank shall repay to the Agent on demand
such amount  distributed  to such Bank,  together with  interest  thereon at the
Federal Funds Rate for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such
Bank until the date repaid.

         2.12  Payments by the Banks to the Agent. (a) Unless the Agent receives
notice from a Bank on or prior to the  Execution  Date or,  with  respect to any
Borrowing  after the Execution Date, at least one Business Day prior to the date
of such  Borrowing,  that such Bank will not make available as and when required
hereunder  to the Agent for the account of the Company the amount of that Bank's
Pro Rata Share of the  Borrowing,  the Agent may assume  that each Bank has made
such  amount  available  to the  Agent  in  immediately  available  funds on the
Borrowing  Date and the Agent may (but shall not be so  required),  in  reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Company on such date a corresponding
amount.  If and to the  extent  any Bank  shall  not have  made its full  amount
available  to the  Agent in  immediately  available  funds and the Agent in such
circumstances has made available to the Company such amount,  that Bank shall on
the Business Day following such Borrowing Date make such amount available to the
Agent, together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for each day during such
period.  A notice of the Agent  submitted  to any Bank with  respect  to amounts
owing under this  subsection (a) shall be conclusive,  absent manifest error. If
such amount is so made  available,  such  payment to the Agent shall  constitute
such Bank's Loan on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If
such amount is not made available to the Agent on the Business Day following the
Borrowing  Date,  the Agent will notify the Company of such failure to fund and,
upon demand by the Agent, the Company shall pay such amount to the Agent for the
Agent's  account,  together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the
date  of  such  Borrowing,  at a rate  per  annum  equal  to the  interest  rate
applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.



                                       30
<PAGE>

                  (b)    The failure of any Bank to make any Loan on any  
Borrowing Date shall not relieve any other Bank of any  obligation  hereunder to
make a Loan on such Borrowing  Date,  but no Bank shall be  responsible  for the
failure  of any other Bank to make the Loan to be made by such other Bank on any
Borrowing Date.

         2.13  Sharing of Payments,  Etc.  If, other than as expressly  provided
elsewhere  herein,  any Bank shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it any
payment (whether  voluntary,  involuntary,  through the exercise of any right of
set-off,  or  otherwise)  in  excess  of  its  ratable  share  (or  other  share
contemplated  hereunder),  such Bank shall  immediately  (a) notify the Agent of
such fact,  and (b)  purchase  from the other Banks such  participations  in the
Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such  purchasing Bank to share
the excess payment pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or
any portion of such excess  payment is thereafter  recovered from the purchasing
Bank,  such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Bank shall
repay to the purchasing Bank the purchase price paid therefor,  together with an
amount equal to such paying Bank's ratable share (according to the proportion of
(i) the amount of such paying Bank's required repayment to (ii) the total amount
so recovered from the  purchasing  Bank) of any interest or other amount paid or
payable by the purchasing Bank in respect of the total amount so recovered.  The
Company  agrees that any Bank so  purchasing a  participation  from another Bank
may, to the fullest extent permitted by law,  exercise all its rights of payment
(including  the right of set-off,  but subject to Section 10.10) with respect to
such  participation  as fully as if such Bank were the  direct  creditor  of the
Company in the amount of such participation.  The Agent will keep records (which
shall  be  conclusive  and  binding  in  the  absence  of  manifest   error)  of
participations  purchased  under this  Section 2.13 and will in each case notify
the Banks following any such purchases or repayments.

        2.14  Extensions of the Commitments.

                  (a)    The Company may,  by  written   notice  (an  "Extension
Request") given to the Agent at least 60 days but not more than 75 days prior to
each of the first  anniversary  ("First  Anniversary")  and  second  anniversary
("Second  Anniversary")  of the Execution Date,  request that the then effective
Termination Date be extended by one year.

                  (b)    The Agent shall  promptly  advise each Bank of its 
receipt of any Extension Request. Each Bank may, in its sole discretion, consent
to such requested extension by giving written notice thereof to the Agent by not
later than the  Business Day (the  "Extension  Confirmation  Date")  immediately
preceding  the date  that is 31 days  after the date of the  Extension  Request.
Failure  on the part of any  Bank to  respond  to an  Extension  Request  by the
applicable  Extension  Confirmation  Date shall be deemed to be a denial of such
request by such Bank. If all the Banks shall consent in writing to the requested
extension by such time,  such extension  shall become  effective.  Otherwise the
then effective  Termination Date shall remain in



                                       31
<PAGE>

effect.  Promptly  following  the opening of business on the first  Business Day
following the applicable Extension Confirmation Date but no later than the First
Anniversary or Second  Anniversary,  as  applicable,  the Agent shall notify the
Company in writing as to whether the  Extension  Request has been granted  (such
written notice being an "Extension  Confirmation  Notice") and, if granted, such
extension  shall be confirmed upon the issuance of such  Extension  Confirmation
Notice.  The Agent shall  promptly  thereafter  provide a copy of such Extension
Confirmation Notice to each Bank.

                  (c)    Each Extension  Confirmation Notice shall specify the 
date to which the  Termination  Date is to be extended,  which shall be the date
one year following the Termination Date then in effect.

                                   ARTICLE III

                     TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

         3.01  Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Company to any Bank or the
Agent under this  Agreement and any other Loan  Document  shall be made free and
clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, any Taxes. In addition,  the
Company shall pay all Other Taxes.

                  (b)    If the Company shall be required  by law to  deduct  or
withhold any Taxes,  Other Taxes or Further  Taxes from or in respect of any sum
payable hereunder to any Bank or the Agent, then:

                         (i)   the sum payable shall be increased as necessary
         so  that,  after  making  all  required   deductions  and  withholdings
         (including  deductions and  withholdings  applicable to additional sums
         payable under this Section 3.01),  such Bank or the Agent,  as the case
         may be,  receives  and retains an amount equal to the sum it would have
         received and retained had no such deductions or withholdings been made;

                         (ii)  the  Company  shall  make  such   deductions  and
         withholdings;

                         (iii) the Company shall pay the full amount deducted or
         withheld  to the  relevant  taxing  authority  or  other  authority  in
         accordance with applicable law; and

                         (iv)  the  Company shall  also pay to each  Bank or the
         Agent,  at the time interest is paid,  Further Taxes in the amount that
         the respective Bank or the Agent certifies as necessary to preserve the
         after-tax  yield  the Bank or the Agent  would  have  received  if such
         Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes had not been imposed.



                                       32
<PAGE>

                  (c)    The Company agrees to indemnify and hold  harmless each
Bank and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes,  Other Taxes, and Further Taxes
in the amount that the  respective  Bank or the Agent  certifies as necessary to
preserve the  after-tax  yield the Bank or the Agent would have received if such
Taxes,  Other Taxes or Further  Taxes had not been  imposed,  and any  liability
(including penalties, interest, additions to tax and expenses) arising therefrom
or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes
were correctly or legally asserted.  Payment under this indemnification shall be
made  within 30 days after the date the Bank or the Agent makes  written  demand
therefor.  Upon the written  request of the Company,  the applicable Bank or the
Agent  shall  furnish the  Company  with  evidence of the payment of such Taxes,
Other Taxes or Further Taxes for which the applicable Bank or the Agent has been
reimbursed by the Company.

                  (d)    Within 30 days  after  the  date of any  payment by the
Company of Taxes,  Other Taxes or Further  Taxes,  the Company  shall furnish to
each Bank or the Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt  evidencing
payment thereof,  or other evidence of payment  satisfactory to such Bank or the
Agent.

                  (e)    If the Company is required to pay any amount to any 
Bank  pursuant to  subsection  (b) or (c) of this Section  3.01,  then such Bank
shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions)
to change the  jurisdiction  of its Lending  Office so as to eliminate  any such
additional  payment by the Company which may thereafter  accrue, if such change,
in the sole  judgment of such Bank,  is not  otherwise  disadvantageous  to such
Bank.

         3.02  Illegality.  (a) If any Bank determines that the  introduction of
any  Requirement  of Law,  or any change in any  Requirement  of Law,  or in the
interpretation  or  administration  of any  Requirement  of  Law,  has  made  it
unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental  Authority has asserted
that it is  unlawful,  for any Bank or its  applicable  Lending  Office  to make
Offshore Rate Loans,  then, on notice thereof by the Bank to the Company through
the Agent,  any  obligation  of that Bank to make  Offshore  Rate Loans shall be
suspended   until  the  Bank  notifies  the  Agent  and  the  Company  that  the
circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.

                  (b)    If a Bank  determines that it is unlawful for such Bank
to maintain  any  Offshore  Rate Loan,  the Company  shall,  upon its receipt of
notice of such fact and demand from such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), prepay
in full such  Offshore Rate Loans of that Bank then  outstanding,  together with
interest accrued thereon and amounts required under Section 3.04,  either on the
last day of the Interest  Period thereof,  if the Bank may lawfully  continue to
maintain such Offshore Rate Loans to such day, or  immediately,  if the Bank may
not lawfully  continue to maintain  such  Offshore  Rate Loan. If the Company is
required  to so prepay any  Offshore  Rate  Loan,  then  concurrently  with such
prepayment,  the Company  shall borrow from the affected  Bank, in the amount of
such repayment, a Base Rate Loan.



                                       33
<PAGE>

                  (c)    If the obligation of any Bank to make or maintain 
Offshore Rate Loans has been so terminated or suspended,  the Company may elect,
by giving  notice to the Bank  through  the Agent,  that all Loans  which  would
otherwise be made by the Bank as Offshore  Rate Loans shall be instead Base Rate
Loans.

                  (d)    Before  giving any notice to the Agent under this
Section 3.02, the affected Bank shall designate a different  Lending Office with
respect to its Offshore Rate Loans if such  designation  will avoid the need for
giving such  notice or making  such demand and will not, in the  judgment of the
Bank, be illegal or otherwise disadvantageous to the Bank.

         3.03  Increased  Costs  and  Reduction  of  Return.  (a)  If  any  Bank
reasonably  determines that, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change
(other  than  any  change  by  way  of  imposition  of or  increase  in  reserve
requirements  included in the  calculation of the Offshore Rate or in respect of
the assessment rate payable by any Bank to the FDIC for insuring U.S.  deposits)
after the date hereof in or in the  interpretation  of any law or  regulation or
(ii) the  compliance by that Bank with any guideline or request from any central
bank or other  Governmental  Authority  (whether or not having the force of law)
enacted or promulgated  after the date hereof there shall be any increase in the
cost to such Bank of  agreeing  to make or making,  funding or  maintaining  any
Offshore  Rate Loans,  then the Company shall be liable for, and shall from time
to time,  upon demand (with a copy of such demand to be sent to the Agent),  pay
to the Agent for the account of such Bank,  additional amounts as are sufficient
to compensate such Bank for such increased costs.

                  (b)    If any Bank shall have reasonably  determined that (i) 
the  introduction  of any Capital  Adequacy  Regulation,  (ii) any change in any
Capital  Adequacy  Regulation,   (iii)  any  change  in  the  interpretation  or
administration  of any Capital Adequacy  Regulation by any central bank or other
Governmental   Authority  charged  with  the  interpretation  or  administration
thereof,  or  (iv)  compliance  by the  Bank  (or  its  Lending  Office)  or any
corporation  controlling the Bank with any Capital Adequacy Regulation,  affects
or would affect the amount of capital  required or expected to be  maintained by
the Bank or any corporation  controlling the Bank and (taking into consideration
such Bank's or such corporation's  policies with respect to capital adequacy and
such  Bank's  desired  return on  capital)  determines  that the  amount of such
capital is increased  as a  consequence  of its  Commitment,  loans,  credits or
obligations under this Agreement,  then, upon demand of such Bank to the Company
through  the  Agent,  the  Company  shall pay to the Bank,  from time to time as
specified by the Bank,  additional amounts sufficient to compensate the Bank for
such increase.

         3.04  Funding Losses.  The Company shall  reimburse  each Bank and hold
each Bank  harmless from any loss or expense which the Bank may sustain or incur
as a consequence of:



                                       34
<PAGE>

                  (a)    the failure of the  Company to make on a timely  basis 
any payment of principal of any Offshore Rate Loan;

                  (b)    the failure of the Company to borrow,  continue or 
convert a Loan after the Company has given (or is deemed to have given) a Notice
of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/ Continuation;

                  (c)    the failure of the Company to make any  prepayment  of 
any Loan in accordance with any notice delivered under Section 2.06;

                  (d)    the  prepayment  (including  pursuant to Sections  2.05
or 2.06) or other payment (including after acceleration  thereof) of an Offshore
Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the relevant Interest Period; or

                  (e)    the  automatic conversion  under  Section  2.04  of any
Offshore  Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the
relevant Interest Period;

including any such loss or expense  arising from the liquidation or reemployment
of funds obtained by it to maintain its Offshore Rate Loans or from fees payable
to terminate the deposits from which such funds were  obtained.  For purposes of
calculating  amounts payable by the Company to the Banks under this Section 3.04
and under subsection  3.03(a),  each Offshore Rate Loan made by a Bank (and each
related reserve,  special deposit or similar  requirement) shall be conclusively
deemed to have been funded at the IBOR used in determining the Offshore Rate for
such  Offshore  Rate  Loan by a  matching  deposit  or  other  borrowing  in the
interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period,
whether or not such Offshore Rate Loan is in fact so funded.

         3.05  Inability  to  Determine  Rates.  If the  Agent  determines  that
adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Offshore Rate for
any requested  Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate Loan, or
that the  Offshore  Rate  applicable  pursuant  to  subsection  2.08(a)  for any
requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate Loan does not
adequately  and fairly  reflect the cost to the Banks of funding such Loan,  the
Agent  will  promptly  so notify the  Company  and each  Bank.  Thereafter,  the
obligation of the Banks to make or maintain Offshore Rate Loans, as the case may
be, hereunder shall be suspended until the Agent revokes such notice in writing.
Upon receipt of such  notice,  the Company may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or
Notice of Conversion/Continuation  then submitted by it. If the Company does not
revoke such  Notice,  the Banks shall make,  convert or continue  the Loans,  as
proposed  by the  Company,  in the amount  specified  in the  applicable  notice
submitted by the Company,  but such Loans shall be made,  converted or continued
as Base Rate Loans instead of Offshore Rate Loans.



                                       35
<PAGE>

         3.06  Certificates  of  Banks.  Any  Bank  claiming   reimbursement  or
compensation under this Article III shall deliver to the Company (with a copy to
the Agent) a certificate  setting forth in reasonable  detail the amount payable
to the Bank  hereunder and such  certificate  shall be conclusive and binding on
the Company in the absence of manifest error.

         3.07 Survival.  The  agreements and  obligations of the Company in this
Article III shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.01  Conditions to Effectiveness and Initial Advances of Loans up to 
an Aggregate Exposure of $30 Million.  This Agreement shall not become effective
until,  and the obligation of each Bank to make its initial Loan  hereunder,  is
subject to the prior or  concurrent  satisfaction  of the  conditions  specified
below and subject to prior or  concurrent  receipt of the  applicable  items set
forth below by the Agent on or before the Execution  Date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent in sufficient copies for each Bank:

                  (a)    Credit Agreement and Notes. This Agreement executed by 
the parties hereto and the Notes executed by the Company;

                  (b)    Resolutions; Incumbency.

                         (i)   Copies of the resolutions of the board of 
         directors  of the Company  authorizing  the  transactions  contemplated
         hereby,  certified  as of the  Execution  Date by the  Secretary  or an
         Assistant Secretary of the Company; and

                         (ii)  A  certificate  of  the  Secretary  or  Assistant
         Secretary of the Company  certifying  the names and true  signatures of
         the officers of the Company authorized to execute, deliver and perform,
         as  applicable,  this  Agreement,  and all other Loan  Documents  to be
         delivered by it hereunder;

                  (c)    Organization  Documents;   Good  Standing.  Each of the
following documents:

                         (i)    the articles or certificate of incorporation and
         the bylaws of the Company as in effect on the Execution Date, certified
         as of the Execution Date by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
         Company;



                                       36
<PAGE>

                         (ii)   a  current  good  standing  certificate  for the
         Company and, to the extent applicable,  each Material Subsidiary,  from
         the Secretary of State (or similar,  applicable Governmental Authority)
         of its state of  incorporation  and the state of of its principal place
         of business, as of a recent date; and

                         (iii)  a  compliance   certificate  for  each  Material
         Insurance   Subsidiary   from  the   department  of  insurance  of  its
         jurisdiction of domicile.

                  (d)    Legal Opinion.  An opinion of Williams Mullen  hristian
& Dobbins,  counsel to the Company and addressed to the Agent and the Banks,  in
form and substance acceptable to the Agent;

                  (e)    Payment of Fees and  Expenses.  Evidence of payment by 
the  Company of all accrued and unpaid  fees,  costs and  expenses to the extent
then due and payable on the Execution Date, together with Attorney Costs of BofA
to the extent  invoiced prior to or on the Execution  Date, plus such additional
amounts of Attorney  Costs as shall  constitute  BofA's  reasonable  estimate of
Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing  proceedings
(provided  that such estimate  shall not  thereafter  preclude final settling of
accounts  between  the  Company and BofA);  including  any such costs,  fees and
expenses arising under or referenced in Sections 2.09 and 10.04;

                  (f)    Certificate.  A certificate  signed  by  a  Responsible
Officer, dated as of the Execution Date, stating that:

                         (i)    the  representations and warranties contained in
         Article V are true and  correct on and as of such date,  as though made
         on  and  as  of  such  date,   except  to  the  extent  that  any  such
         representation  or warranty is expressly stated to relate to an earlier
         date, in which case such  representation  or warranty shall be true and
         correct as of such earlier date;

                         (ii)   no  Default or Event of  Default exists or would
         result from the initial Borrowing,  if any, being made on the Execution
         Date;

                         (iii)  the Stock Purchase Agreement is in full force
         and effect and no term or condition thereof has been amended,  modified
         or waived after the execution thereof without the prior written consent
         of the Agent;

                         (iv)   no injunction or temporary restraining order 
         which  prohibits the making of the Loans,  or other  litigation  and no
         event or  circumstance  has occurred  since  December 31, 1996 that has
         resulted  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to result  in a  Material
         Adverse Effect is pending,  or to such person's  knowledge  threatened;
         and



                                       37
<PAGE>

                         (v)    all of  the  conditions  precedent  set forth in
         Section 4.01 on the part of the Company have been  satisfied in full as
         of the Execution Date.

                  (g)    Approvals.  Evidence of the receipt by the Company of 
all required approvals,  if any, of the transactions  contemplated hereby and by
the  other  Loan  Documents  (but  not  the  Acquisition  Documents)  from  each
applicable Governmental Authority;

                  (h)    Termination of Prior Indebtedness. Evidence of the 
payment in full of all obligations  under, and termination of, (A) Lawyers Title
Insurance  $20,000,000  working capital credit facility with certain lenders for
which  Crestar  Bank is the  agent,  and (B) the  Company's  $15,000,000  credit
facility  with  certain  lenders  for  which  Crestar  Bank is the agent and the
release of any Liens securing such facilities; and

                  (i)    Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, 
documents or materials as the Agent or any Bank may reasonably request.

Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  from and after the  satisfaction in full by the
Company  of the  conditions  precedent  set  forth  in this  Section  4.01,  the
Aggregate  Exposure shall exceed  $30,000,000 only if and to the extent that the
Company is in compliance with Section 4.02.

         4.02  Conditions  to  Advances  of Loans in  Excess of $30  Million  of
Aggregate  Exposure.  The obligation of each Bank to make Loans hereunder in any
amount which would cause the  Aggregate  Exposure to exceed  $30,000,000  at any
time is  subject  to the  prior or  concurrent  satisfaction  of the  conditions
specified below and subject to the prior or concurrent receipt of the applicable
items  set  forth  below  by  the  Agent,  in  form  and  substance   reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent in sufficient copies for each Bank:

                  (a)    Consummation  of  the  Stock  Acquisition.   The  Stock
Acquisition  has  been  or is  being  consummated  substantially  simultaneously
herewith in accordance  with the Stock  Purchase  Agreement  and all  applicable
Requirements of Law and no material conditions to closing set forth therein have
been waived;

                  (b)    Certified  Copies.  Certified copies of the Acquisition
Documents and certified copies of the Company resolutions  authorizing the Stock
Acquisition;

                  (c)    Certificate.  A certificate  signed  by  a  Responsible
Officer,  dated as of the date of the proposed  borrowing  stating  that,  after
giving effect to the Stock Acquisition:

                         (i)    no  Default  or Event of Default exists or would
         result from the Borrowing;



                                       38
<PAGE>

                         (ii)   the  Acquisition Documents are in full force and
         effect and no term or condition  thereof has been amended,  modified or
         waived after the execution thereof without the prior written consent of
         the Agent;

                         (iii)  no injunction  or  temporary  restraining  order
         which  prohibits the making of the Loans,  or other  litigation  and no
         event  or  circumstance   has  occurred  that  has  resulted  or  could
         reasonably  be  expected  to result  in a  Material  Adverse  Effect is
         pending, or to such person's knowledge threatened; and

                         (iv)   the Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio (using, 
         for purposes of such computation, the Company's Shareholders' Equity as
         of September 30, 1997) is as specified in such certificate.

                  (d)    Approvals  and  Consents.   All  requisite or necessary
Governmental  Authorities  and third parties shall have approved or consented to
the Stock  Acquisition to the extent  required,  all such approvals and consents
shall remain in effect and there shall be no  governmental  or judicial  action,
actual  or  threatened,   that  has  a  reasonable  likelihood  of  restraining,
preventing or imposing burdensome conditions on the Stock Acquisition;

                  (e)    Legal Opinions. An opinion of Williams Mullen Christian
& Dobbins,  counsel to the Company and addressed to the Agent and the Banks,  in
form and substance  acceptable  to the Agent  together  with  confirmation  from
counsel to each  party to the Stock  Purchase  Agreement  that the Agent and the
Banks  may rely  upon its  opinion  delivered  pursuant  to the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement;

                  (f)    Evidence of Payment. Evidence of payment in full of all
obligations  under,  and termination of,  Commonwealth's  $10,000,000  revolving
credit  facility  with  certain  lenders for which PNC Bank is the agent and the
release of any Liens securing such facility; and

                  (g)    Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, 
documents or materials as the Agent or any Bank may reasonably request.

         4.03  Conditions to All Borrowings. The obligation of each Bank to make
any  Loan to be made by it  (including  its  initial  Loan)  is  subject  to the
satisfaction  of the following  conditions  precedent on the relevant  Borrowing
Date:

                  (a)    Notice of Borrowing.  The Agent shall have received 
(with,  in the case of the initial  Loan only, a copy for each Bank) a Notice of
Borrowing;



                                       39
<PAGE>

                  (b)    Continuation  of  Representations and Warranties.   The
representations  and warranties in Article V shall be true and correct on and as
of  such  Borrowing  Date  with  the  same  effect  as if made on and as of such
Borrowing  Date  (except  to the  extent  such  representations  and  warranties
expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct
as of such earlier date); and

                  (c)    No Existing Default.  No Default or Event of Default
shall exist or shall result from such Borrowing.

Each Notice of Borrowing  submitted by the Company  hereunder shall constitute a
representation  and  warranty by the Company  hereunder,  as of the date of each
such notice and as of each Borrowing  Date,  that the conditions in this Section
4.03 are satisfied.

                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Company  represents  and  warrants to the Agent and each Bank that,
both before and after  giving  effect to the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents:

         5.01  Corporate  Existence  and  Power.  The  Company  and  each of its
Material Subsidiaries:

                  (a)    is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation;

                  (b)    has the power and authority and all governmental 
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to own its assets, carry on its
business and to execute,  deliver,  and perform its  obligations  under the Loan
Documents;

                  (c)    is duly qualified as a foreign insurer or corporation,
as  applicable,  and is  licensed  and in good  standing  under the laws of each
jurisdiction where its ownership,  lease or operation of property or the conduct
of its business requires such qualification or license; and

                  (d)    is in compliance with all Requirements of Law; except,
in each case  referred  to in clause (c) or clause  (d),  to the extent that the
failure to do so could not  reasonably  be expected  to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

         5.02  Corporate Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, 
delivery  and  performance  by the  Company  of this  Agreement  and each  other
Transaction Document to which the Company is party, have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action, and do not and will not:



                                       40
<PAGE>

                  (a)    contravene the terms of any of the Company's  
Organization Documents;

                  (b)    conflict with or result in any breach or contravention 
of, or the  creation of any Lien under,  any  document  evidencing  any material
Contractual  Obligation  to which the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
party or any order, injunction,  writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to
which such Person or its property is subject; or

                  (c)    violate any Requirement of Law.

         5.03  Governmental  Authorization.  No  approval,  consent,  exemption,
authorization,   or  other  action  by,  or  notice  to,  or  filing  with,  any
Governmental   Authority  is  necessary  or  required  in  connection  with  the
execution,  delivery or performance by, or enforcement  against,  the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries  of this Agreement or any other  Transaction  Document,
except for the  approvals  set forth on Schedule  5.03  hereto,  which have been
obtained and are in full force and effect or which, to the extent  applicable to
the Stock  Acquisition,  shall have been  obtained and will be in full force and
effect prior to the Increased Borrowing Date.

         5.04  Binding Effect.  This  Agreement  and each other Loan Document to
which the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party  constitute the legal,
valid and binding  obligations of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries to the
extent it is a party thereto, enforceable against such Person in accordance with
their respective terms,  except as  enforceability  may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

         5.05  Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.05 hereto, there 
are no actions, suits,  proceedings,  claims or disputes pending, or to the best
knowledge of the Company,  threatened  or  contemplated,  at law, in equity,  in
arbitration or before any Governmental  Authority,  against the Company,  or its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties:

                  (a)    which purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or
any other Transaction Document,  or any of the transactions  contemplated hereby
or thereby; or

                  (b)    as to which there exists a substantial likelihood of an
adverse determination,  which determination would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. No injunction,  writ, temporary  restraining order or
any order of any  nature  has been  issued  by any  court or other  Governmental
Authority   purporting  to  enjoin  or  restrain  the  execution,   delivery  or
performance of this Agreement or any other  Transaction  Document,  or directing
that the  transactions  provided  for hereof or therein  not be  consummated  as
hereof or therein provided.



                                       41
<PAGE>

         5.06  No  Default.  After  giving  effect  to the  satisfaction  of the
conditions  set forth in Sections  4.01(h) and  4.02(f),  no Default or Event of
Default  exists or would  result from the  incurring of any  Obligations  by the
Company.  Neither  the Company nor any  Subsidiary  is in default  under or with
respect to any  Contractual  Obligation in any respect  which,  individually  or
together with all such defaults, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect,  or that would, if such default had occurred after the Execution
Date, create an Event of Default under subsection 8.01(e).

         5.07  ERISA Compliance.

                  (a)    Except as set forth in Schedule 5.07(a) hereto,  each
Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of
ERISA,  the Code and other  federal or state law. Each Plan which is intended to
qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable  determination
letter  from the IRS and to the  best  knowledge  of the  Company,  nothing  has
occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification.  The Company and each
ERISA  Affiliate  has made all  required  contributions  to any Plan  subject to
Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension
of any  amortization  period  pursuant  to Section 412 of the Code has been made
with respect to any Plan.

                  (b)    There are no pending or,  to the best  knowledge of the
Company,  threatened claims,  actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental
Authority,  with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could  reasonably  be
expected to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect.  There has been no prohibited
transaction or violation of the fiduciary  responsibility  rules with respect to
any Plan which has  resulted  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (c)    (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur;  (ii) no Pension  Plan has any  Unfunded  Pension  Liability,
except as set forth in Schedule  5.07(c)(ii)  attached hereto; (iii) neither the
Company nor any ERISA  Affiliate has incurred,  or reasonably  expects to incur,
any  liability  under Title IV of ERISA with  respect to any Pension Plan (other
than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA);  (iv) neither
the Company nor any ERISA  Affiliate  has  incurred,  or  reasonably  expects to
incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice
under Section 4219 of ERISA,  would result in such liability) under Section 4201
or 4243 of ERISA with  respect to a  Multiemployer  Plan;  and (v)  neither  the
Company  nor any ERISA  Affiliate  has  engaged in a  transaction  that could be
subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

         5.08  Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans 
are to be used solely for the  purposes  set forth in and  permitted  by Section
6.12 and Section  7.07.  Neither the Company  nor any  Subsidiary  is  generally
engaged in the  business of  purchasing  or selling  Margin  Stock or  extending
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.



                                       42
<PAGE>

         5.09  Title to Properties.  The Company and each  Subsidiary  have good
record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or
used in the ordinary  conduct of their  respective  businesses,  except for such
defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.  The property of the Company and its  Subsidiaries is subject to
no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

         5.10  Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal 
and other material tax returns and reports  required to be filed,  and have paid
all Federal and other material taxes,  assessments,  fees and other governmental
charges  levied  or  imposed  upon  them or their  properties,  income or assets
otherwise due and payable,  except those which are being contested in good faith
by  appropriate  proceedings  as set forth in Schedule 5.10 hereto and for which
adequate  reserves  have  been  provided  in  accordance  with SAP or  GAAP,  as
applicable.  The  Company is aware of no  proposed  tax  assessment  against the
Company or any Subsidiary that could, if made,  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         5.11  Financial  Condition.  (a) Each of (i) the  audited  consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated December 31, 1996
and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for the fiscal year ended on that date and (ii) the unaudited consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated June 30, 1997 and
the related  consolidated  statements of income,  shareholders'  equity and cash
flows for the period ended on that date:

                         (i)    were prepared in accordance with GAAP
         consistently  applied throughout the period covered thereby,  except as
         otherwise  expressly  noted  therein,  subject,  in the  case  of  such
         unaudited financial statements,  to ordinary, good faith year end audit
         adjustments;

                         (ii)   fairly  present  the financial condition  of the
         Company  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the date  thereof  and results of
         operations for the period covered thereby; and

                         (iii)  except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 
         5.11 hereto,  show all  material  indebtedness  and other  liabilities,
         direct or contingent,  of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
         as of the date  thereof,  including  liabilities  for  taxes,  material
         commitments and Contingent Obligations.

                  (b)    Since December  31,  1996,  there  has been no Material
Adverse Effect.



                                       43
<PAGE>

         5.12  Environmental  Matters.  Except  as set  forth in  Schedule  5.12
hereto,  the Company has reasonably  concluded that  Environmental  Claims could
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.13  Regulated  Entities.  None of the Company, any Person controlling
the Company, or any Subsidiary, is an "Investment Company" within the meaning of
the  Investment  Company Act of 1940.  The Company is not subject to  regulation
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate  Commerce Act, any state public  utilities code, or any other Federal
or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.

         5.14  No Burdensome Restrictions. Neither the Company nor any 
Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contractual  Obligation,  or subject to
any restriction in any Organization  Document,  or any Requirement of Law, which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.15  Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc. The Company or
its  Subsidiaries  own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all of
the patents,  trademarks,  service marks, trade names,  copyrights,  contractual
franchises,  authorizations  and other rights that are reasonably  necessary for
the operation of their respective  businesses,  without conflict with the rights
of any other Person.  To the best  knowledge of the Company,  no slogan or other
advertising device, product,  process, method, substance, part or other material
now  employed,  or  now  contemplated  to be  employed,  by the  Company  or any
Subsidiary  infringes  upon any  rights  held by any other  Person.  No claim or
litigation  regarding  any of the  foregoing  is pending or  threatened,  and no
patent,  invention,  device,  application,  principle or any statute, law, rule,
regulation,  standard or code is pending or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,
proposed, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.16  Subsidiaries. As of the Execution Date and after giving effect to
the  Stock  Acquisition,  the  Company  has no  Subsidiaries  other  than  those
specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.16 hereto.

         5.17  Insurance.  Except as  specifically  disclosed  in Schedule  5.17
hereto,  the  properties  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are insured with
financially  sound and  reputable  insurance  companies  not  Affiliates  of the
Company  (excluding  affiliates  of  Reliance  Group  Holdings,  Inc. a Delaware
corporation),  in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as
are customarily  carried by companies  engaged in similar  businesses and owning
similar properties in localities where the Company or such Subsidiary operates.

         5.18  Swap Obligations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has incurred any outstanding  obligations  under any Swap Contracts,  other than
Permitted  Swap  Obligations.  The Company has  undertaken  its own  independent
assessment of its  consolidated  assets,  liabilities  and  commitments  and has
considered  appropriate  means of mitigating and managing risks



                                       44
<PAGE>

associated with such matters and has not relied on any swap  counterparty or any
Affiliate of any swap counterparty in determining whether to enter into any Swap
Contract.

         5.19  Acquisition  Documents.  The Company has  delivered  to the Agent
true,  complete and correct copies of the Acquisition  Documents  (including all
schedules,  exhibits, annexes,  amendments,  supplements,  modifications and all
other documents  delivered  pursuant  thereto or in connection  therewith).  The
Acquisition  Documents  as  originally  executed  and  delivered  by the parties
thereto have not been  amended,  waived,  supplemented  or modified  without the
consent of the Required Banks and the Agent. The  representations and warranties
of the Company set forth  therein are true and correct in all material  respects
as of the date thereof.  On the date of this Agreement,  neither the Company nor
any other party under the Acquisition Documents is in default in the performance
of or compliance with any provisions under the Acquisition Documents.  The Stock
Acquisition  is being  consummated  contemporaneously  with the Borrowing on the
Increased Borrowing Date in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

         5.20  Insurance Licenses. Schedule 5.20 hereto lists the jurisdiction 
of domicile of each  Insurance  Subsidiary  and,  with respect to each  Material
Insurance Subsidiary,  all of the jurisdictions in which such Material Insurance
Subsidiary holds a License and is authorized to transact  insurance  business as
of the date of this Agreement. No License, the loss of which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  is the subject of a proceeding for
suspension or revocation.  To the Company's  knowledge,  there is no sustainable
basis for such  suspension or revocation,  and no such  suspension or revocation
has been threatened by any Governmental  Authority.  To the Company's knowledge,
no  Insurance  Subsidiary  has  received  written  notice from any  Governmental
Authority  that  it is  deemed  to be  "commercially  domiciled"  for  insurance
regulatory  purposes in any  jurisdiction  other than that indicated on Schedule
5.20 hereto.  Schedule 5.20 hereto also indicates the line or lines of insurance
in which each such  Insurance  Subsidiary  is engaged and the state or states in
which such Insurance  Subsidiary is licensed to engage in any line of insurance,
in each case as of the date of this Agreement.

         5.21  Reinsurance. The Insurance Subsidiaries, in the ordinary course 
of business,  cede to other title insurance  underwriters (and assume from other
title  insurance  underwriters)  reinsurance on specific title risks pursuant to
one or more  standard  (American  Land  Title  Association  (ALTA))  facultative
reinsurance agreements (each a "Facultative Reinsurance Agreement"). The Company
does not have knowledge as of the date hereof that any amount recoverable by any
Insurance  Subsidiary pursuant to any Facultative  Reinsurance  Agreement is not
fully collectible in due course.  To the knowledge of the Company,  no Insurance
Subsidiary  is  in  default  in  any  material  respect  as to  any  Facultative
Reinsurance Agreement. Except as described in Schedule 5.21 hereto, there are no
claims in excess of $500,000 under any Facultative  Reinsurance  Agreement which
are disputed by the Insurance  Subsidiary or the other party to the  Facultative
Reinsurance Agreement.



                                       45
<PAGE>

         5.22  Reserves.  Except  as set forth on  Schedule  5.22  hereto,  each
reserve  and  other  material  liability  amount  in  respect  of the  insurance
business,  including,  without  limitation,  material reserve and other material
liability amounts in respect of insurance policies of each Insurance Subsidiary,
established or reflected in the Annual Statement for the year ended December 31,
1996 of such Insurance  Subsidiary,  was determined in accordance with usual and
customary  industry  practice,  was fairly stated in  accordance  with usual and
customary  industry  practice and was in compliance with the requirements of the
insurance  laws,  rules and  regulations of its state of domicile as of the date
thereof.  Each Insurance  Subsidiary owns assets that qualify as admitted assets
under applicable law in an amount at least equal to the sum of all such reserves
and liability  amounts and its minimum statutory capital and surplus as required
by the insurance laws, rules and regulations of its state of domicile.

         5.23  Full Disclosure. None of the representations or warranties made 
by the Company in the Loan  Documents  as of the date such  representations  and
warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the statements  contained in any
exhibit, report, schedule, statement or certificate furnished by or on behalf of
the Company or any Subsidiary in connection  with the Loan Documents  (including
the offering and disclosure  materials  delivered by or on behalf of the Company
to the Banks prior to the Execution Date) taken as a whole,  contains any untrue
statement of a material  fact or omits any material  fact  required to be stated
therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements  made  therein,  in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as of the time when made
or delivered.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         So long as any Bank shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or
other Obligation  shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied,  unless the Required Banks
waive compliance in writing:

         6.01  Financial Statements.  The Company shall deliver to the Agent, in
form  and  detail  satisfactory  to the  Agent  and  the  Required  Banks,  with
sufficient copies for each Bank:

                  (a)    as soon as available, but not later than 90 days after 
the end of each fiscal year, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of
the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  as at the end of such year and the  related
consolidated  statements of income or operations,  shareholders' equity and cash
flows for such year,  setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
for the previous  fiscal year, and  accompanied by the opinion of Ernst & Young,



                                       46
<PAGE>

L.L.P.  or another  nationally-recognized  independent  public  accounting  firm
("Independent   Auditor")  which  report  shall  state  that  such  consolidated
financial  statements  present  fairly the  financial  position  for the periods
indicated  in  conformity  with GAAP  applied on a basis  consistent  with prior
years. Such opinion shall not be qualified or limited because of a restricted or
limited  examination by the Independent  Auditor of any material  portion of the
Company's or any Subsidiary's records;

                  (b)    as soon as available, but not later than 45 days after 
the end of each of the first three  fiscal  quarters of each fiscal year, a copy
of the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income,
shareholders'  equity and cash flows for the period  commencing on the first day
and  ending on the last day of such  quarter,  and  certified  by a  Responsible
Officer as fairly presenting, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary, good
faith year-end  audit  adjustments),  the financial  position and the results of
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries;

                  (c)    as soon as available, but not later than 90 days after 
the end of each fiscal year, a copy of an unaudited parent only balance sheet of
the  Company  as at the end of such year and the  related  statement  of income,
shareholders'  equity and cash flows for such year,  certified by a  Responsible
Officer as having been developed and used in connection  with the preparation of
the financial statements referred to in subsection 6.01(a);

                  (d)    as soon as available, but not later than 45 days after 
the end of each of the first three  fiscal  quarters of each fiscal year, a copy
of the  unaudited  parent  only  balance  sheet of the  Company  and the related
statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows for such quarter, all
certified  by a  Responsible  Officer  as  having  been  developed  and  used in
connection  with the  preparation  of the  financial  statements  referred to in
subsection 6.01(b);

                  (e)    Upon the earlier of (A) 15 days  after  the  regulatory
filing date or (B) 75 days after the close of each fiscal year of each  Material
Insurance  Subsidiary,  copies of the Annual  Statements of each of the Material
Insurance  Subsidiaries  audited and certified by independent  certified  public
accountants of recognized national standing; and

                  (f)    Upon the earlier  of (i) 10 days  after  the regulatory
filing  date or (ii) 60 days  after  the  close of each of the  first  three (3)
fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of each Insurance Subsidiary,  copies of the
Quarterly Statement of each of the Material Insurance Subsidiaries, certified by
the chief  financial  officer  or other  appropriate  officer  of such  Material
Insurance  Subsidiary having substantially the same authority and responsibility
as the chief financial  officer all such statements to be prepared in accordance
with SAP consistently applied through the period reflected hereof.



                                       47
<PAGE>

         6.02  Certificates; Other Information. The Company shall furnish to the
Agent, with sufficient copies for each Bank:

                  (a)    concurrently with the delivery of the financial 
statements referred to in subsections 6.01(a) and (b), a Compliance  Certificate
executed by a Responsible Officer;

                  (b)    promptly,  copies of all financial  statements and 
reports  that the Company  sends to its  shareholders,  copies of all  financial
statements and regular,  periodic or special reports  (including  Forms 10K, 10Q
and 8K) that the Company or any  Subsidiary  may make to, or file with,  the SEC
and copies of all filings or reports (other than routine,  non-material  filings
and reports) that the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries files with the
NAIC or any  insurance  commissioner  or  department  or analogous  Governmental
Authority;

                  (c)    promptly and in any  event  within  10  days  after (i)
learning  thereof,  notification  of any  changes  in the  rating  given  by any
nationally  recognized  rating  agency  in  respect  of any  Material  Insurance
Subsidiary  and (ii)  receipt  thereof,  copies of ratings  analysis by any such
nationally   recognized  rating  agency  relating  to  any  Material   Insurance
Subsidiary;

                  (d)    copies of any actuarial certificates prepared with 
respect  to any  Material  Insurance  Subsidiary,  promptly  after  the  receipt
thereof;

                  (e)    promptly  and in any  event within  two (2)  days after
learning  thereof,  notification  of any  changes  after the date  hereof in the
rating  given by S&P or Moody's,  implicitly  or  explicitly,  in respect of the
Company's senior unsecured Indebtedness;

                  (f)    promptly  after  the  filing of the same with any state
insurance regulatory authority, a copy of any Management Analysis and Discussion
filed  by any  Material  Insurance  Subsidiary  with any  such  state  insurance
regulatory authority; and

                  (g)    promptly, such  additional  information  regarding  the
business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary as the
Agent, at the request of any Bank, may from time to time reasonably request.

         6.03  Notices. The Company shall promptly notify the Agent and each 
Bank:

                  (a)    of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default,
and of the occurrence or existence of any event or circumstance that foreseeably
will become a Default or Event of Default;



                                       48
<PAGE>

                  (b)    of any matter that has resulted or could  reasonably be
expected to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect,  including  (i) any breach or
non-performance  of, or any  default  under,  a  Contractual  Obligation  of the
Company  or  any  Subsidiary;  (ii)  any  dispute,  litigation,   investigation,
proceeding  or  suspension  between  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  and  any
Governmental   Authority;   or  (iii)  the  commencement  of,  or  any  material
development  in, any  litigation  or  proceeding  affecting  the  Company or any
Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

                  (c)    of the occurrence of any of the following events
affecting the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate (but in no event more than 10 days
after such  event),  and deliver to the Agent and each Bank a copy of any notice
with respect to such event that is filed with a  Governmental  Authority and any
notice  delivered  by a  Governmental  Authority  to the  Company  or any  ERISA
Affiliate with respect to such event:

                         (i)   an ERISA Event;

                         (ii)  a $5,000,000  or greater increase in the Unfunded
         Pension Liability of any Pension Plan;

                         (iii) the   adoption  of,  or  the   commencement   of
         contributions  to, any Plan  subject to Section  412 of the Code by the
         Company or any ERISA Affiliate; or

                         (iv)  the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject 
         to Section 412 of the Code, if such  amendment  results in a $5,000,000
         or greater increase in contributions or Unfunded Pension Liability.

                  (d)    of any material change in accounting policies or 
financial   reporting   practices   by  the  Company  or  any  of  its  Material
Subsidiaries;

                  (e)    the receipt of any notice from any Governmental  
Authority of the expiration without renewal, revocation or suspension of, or the
institution  of any  proceedings  to  revoke  or  suspend,  any  License  now or
hereafter  held  by any  Insurance  Subsidiary  which  is  required  to  conduct
insurance  business in compliance  with all applicable  laws and regulations and
the expiration,  revocation or suspension of which could  reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (f)    the receipt of any notice from any Governmental  
Authority  of the  institution  of any  disciplinary  proceedings  against or in
respect of any Insurance Subsidiary, or the issuance of any order, the taking of
any  action  or  any  request  for  an  extraordinary  audit  for  cause  by any
Governmental  Authority  which,  if adversely  determined,  could  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or



                                       49
<PAGE>

                  (g)    any  judicial  or  administrative   order  limiting  or
controlling  the  insurance  business of any Insurance  Subsidiary  (and not the
insurance  industry  generally)  which has been  issued or adopted and which has
had, or which could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Each  notice  under this  Section  shall be  accompanied  by a
written  statement  by a  Responsible  Officer  setting  forth  details  of  the
occurrence  referred  to  therein,  and  stating  what action the Company or any
affected Subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto and at what time. Each
notice under subsection  6.03(a) shall describe with  particularity  any and all
clauses or  provisions  of this  Agreement or other Loan Document that have been
(or foreseeably will be) breached or violated.

         6.04  Preservation of Corporate  Existence, Etc. The Company shall, and
shall cause each Subsidiary (but in the case of Sections  6.04(a),  (b) and (c),
each Material Subsidiary) to:

                  (a)    preserve  and  maintain  in full  force  and effect its
corporate   existence  and  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  its  state  or
jurisdiction of incorporation;

                  (b)    preserve  and  maintain  in full  force  and effect all
governmental  rights,   privileges,   qualifications,   permits,   licenses  and
franchises  necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business  except
in connection  with  transactions  permitted by Section 7.03 and sales of assets
permitted by Section 7.02;

                  (c)    use reasonable  efforts,  in  the  ordinary  course  of
business, to preserve its business organization and goodwill;

                  (d)    preserve  or renew  all  of  its   registered  patents,
trademarks,  trade names and service marks, the  non-preservation of which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (e)    carry on and conduct its business only in substantially
the same  manner and in  substantially  the same fields of  enterprise  as it is
presently conducted and provide such additional products and services related to
the transfer or servicing of real estate as the Company deems appropriate in the
exercise of its business judgment.

No Insurance  Subsidiary  shall  change its state of domicile  without the prior
written consent of the Required  Banks,  which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

         6.05  Maintenance of Property.  The Company shall  maintain,  and shall
cause each  Subsidiary to maintain,  and preserve all its property which is used
or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and
tear excepted, except as permitted by Section 7.02.



                                       50
<PAGE>

         6.06  Insurance.  The  Company  shall  maintain,  and shall  cause each
Subsidiary  to  maintain,  with  financially  sound  and  reputable  independent
insurers,  insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or
damage of the kinds  customarily  insured against by Persons engaged in the same
or  similar  business,  of such  types and in such  amounts  as are  customarily
carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

         6.07  Payment of  Obligations.  The Company shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary  to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable,  all
their respective obligations and liabilities, including:

                  (a)    all tax liabilities,  assessments and governmental
charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being
contested in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and  adequate  reserves in
accordance with GAAP or SAP, as applicable,  are being maintained by the Company
or such Subsidiary;

                  (b)    all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become
a Lien upon its property and which would constitute an Event of Default; and

                  (c)    all Indebtedness individually exceeding $15,000,000, as
and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination  provisions contained
in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

         6.08  Compliance  with Laws. The Company shall comply,  and shall cause
each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all Requirements of Law
of any  Governmental  Authority  having  jurisdiction  over  it or its  business
(including  the  Federal  Fair  Labor  Standards  Act),  except  such  as may be
contested in good faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist.

         6.09  Compliance with ERISA. The Company shall, and shall cause each of
its ERISA  Affiliates  to: (a) maintain  each Plan in compliance in all material
respects with the applicable  provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or
state law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the
Code to maintain such qualification;  and (c) make all required contributions to
any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code.

         6.10  Inspection  of Property and Books and Records.  The Company shall
maintain and shall cause each  Subsidiary to maintain proper books of record and
account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP or SAP,
as applicable,  consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions
and  matters  involving  the  assets  and  business  of  the  Company  and  such
Subsidiary. The Company shall permit, and shall cause each Subsidiary to permit,
representatives  and  independent  contractors of the Agent or any Bank to visit
and inspect any of their  respective  properties,  to examine  their  respective
corporate, financial and operating records,



                                       51
<PAGE>

and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom,  and to discuss their respective
affairs,  finances and accounts with their respective directors,  officers,  and
independent public accountants,  at such reasonable times during normal business
hours and as often as may be reasonably desired,  upon reasonable advance notice
to the Company; provided,  however, when an Event of Default exists the Agent or
any Bank may do any of the  foregoing  at the expense of the Company at any time
during normal business hours and without advance notice.

         6.11  Environmental  Laws.  The  Company  shall,  and shall  cause each
Subsidiary   to,  keep  and  maintain  its  property  in  compliance   with  all
Environmental Laws.

         6.12  Use of Proceeds.  The Company shall use the proceeds of the Loans
to  finance  in part the  Stock  Acquisition  and for  other  general  corporate
purposes not in contravention of any Requirement of Law or of any Loan Document.

         6.13  Designation of Material Subsidiaries. The Company shall from time
to time designate as a "Material  Subsidiary" one or more Subsidiaries  which do
not meet part (a) of the definition of Material Subsidiary to assure that at all
times the total assets of all non-Material  Subsidiaries is less than 10% of the
consolidated  assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries  and that  non-Material
Subsidiaries  do  not  in  the  aggregate  account  for  more  than  10%  of the
consolidated  after-tax  income  of  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries.  Such
designation shall be made in a writing delivered to the Agent.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                        NEGATIVE AND FINANCIAL COVENANTS

         So long as any Bank shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or
other Obligation  shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied,  unless the Required Banks
waive compliance in writing:

         7.01  Limitation on Liens.  The Company shall not, and shall not suffer
or permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make, create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with  respect  to any part of its  property,
whether now owned or hereafter  acquired,  other than the following  ("Permitted
Liens"):

                  (a)    any Lien existing  on  property  of the Company  or any
Subsidiary on the Execution Date and set forth in Schedule 7.01 hereto  securing
Indebtedness outstanding on such date;

                  (b)    any Lien created under any Loan Document;



                                       52
<PAGE>

                  (c)    Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other 
governmental charges which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty,
or to the  extent  that  non-payment  thereof  is  permitted  by  Section  6.07;
provided, that no notice of lien has been filed or recorded under the Code;

                  (d)    carriers',  warehousemen's,   mechanics',   landlords',
materialmen's, repairmen's or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course
of business which are not delinquent or remain payable  without penalty or which
are  being  contested  in  good  faith  and by  appropriate  proceedings,  which
proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property
subject thereto;

                  (e)    Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) consisting
of pledges or deposits required in the ordinary course of business in connection
with workers'  compensation,  unemployment  insurance and other social  security
legislation;

                  (f)    Liens on the property of the Company or any  Subsidiary
securing (i) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than
for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations,  (ii) contingent obligations
on surety and appeal bonds, and (iii) other non-delinquent obligations of a like
nature; in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business,  provided all
such Liens in the aggregate could not (even if enforced)  reasonably be expected
to cause a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (g)    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other 
similar  encumbrances  incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the
aggregate,  are  not  substantial  in  amount,  and  which  do not  in any  case
materially  detract from the value of the property  subject thereto or interfere
with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

                  (h)    Liens on assets of corporations which become  
Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement; provided, that such Liens existed
at the time the respective corporations became Subsidiaries and were not created
in anticipation thereof;

                  (i)    Liens securing obligations in respect of Capital Leases
on assets  subject  to such  leases;  provided,  that such  Capital  Leases  are
otherwise permitted hereunder;

                  (j)    Liens arising  solely by virtue of any statutory or 
common law provision  relating to banker's  liens,  rights of set-off or similar
rights and  remedies as to deposit  accounts or other  funds  maintained  with a
creditor depository institution;  provided, that (i) such deposit account is not
a dedicated cash collateral  account and is not subject to restrictions  against
access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by
the FRB,  and (ii) such  deposit  account is not  intended by the Company or any
Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;



                                       53
<PAGE>

                  (k)    Liens  consisting  of  deposits made  by  any Insurance
Subsidiary  with the  insurance  regulatory  authority  in its  jurisdiction  of
domicile  or other  statutory  Liens or Liens or claims  imposed or  required by
applicable  insurance  law or  regulation  against  the assets of any  Insurance
Subsidiary,  in each  case  in  favor  of all  policyholders  of such  Insurance
Subsidiary and in the ordinary course of such Insurance Subsidiary's business;

                  (l)    Liens upon Approved Investments  of the  Company or any
Subsidiary which are pledged as collateral for Arbitrage Lines of the Company or
such Subsidiary, as applicable;

                  (m)    Liens securing other Obligations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  not to  exceed  $10,000,000  in the  aggregate  at  any  one  time
outstanding; and

                  (n)    Liens upon real estate owned by a Relocation Subsidiary
and secured by Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.05(h).

         7.02  Disposition of Assets. The Company shall not, and shall not 
suffer or permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, lease,
convey,  transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of  (whether  in one or a  series  of
transactions) any property  (including  accounts and notes  receivable,  with or
without  recourse)  or enter  into  any  agreement  to do any of the  foregoing,
except:

                  (a)    dispositions of used, worn-out or surplus equipment in 
the ordinary course of business;

                  (b)    the sale of equipment to the extent that such equipment
is  exchanged  for credit  against  the  purchase  price of similar  replacement
equipment,  or the proceeds of such sale are reasonably  promptly applied to the
purchase price of such replacement equipment;

                  (c)    dispositions of Investments by any Insurance 
Subsidiary;

                  (d)    dispositions (including by way of bulk reinsurance) not
otherwise  permitted  hereunder which are made for fair market value;  provided,
that (i) at the time of any  disposition,  no Event of  Default  shall  exist or
shall result from such  disposition  and (ii) the aggregate  value of all assets
sold  pursuant  to this  subsection  7.02(d)  by the  Company  and its  Material
Subsidiaries, together, shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year;

                  (e)    dispositions of assets as set forth in Schedule 
7.02(e);



                                       54
<PAGE>

                  (f)    ordinary course dispositions of real estate and related
properties by Relocation Subsidiaries in the relocation business;

                  (g)    dispositions of real  property received by an Insurance
Subsidiary  as part of a  settlement  or  claims  resolution  under a policy  of
insurance issued by such Insurance Subsidiary;

                  (h)    dispositions of tangible  property as part of a like 
kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code entered into in the ordinary course
of business;

                  (i)    assets disposed of within twelve (12) months  after the
date  hereof in  connection  with the  consolidation  of the  businesses  of the
Company, Commonwealth and Transnation; and

                  (j)    dispositions of tangible property  transferred pursuant
to  sale-leaseback  transactions;  provided,  that the fair market value of such
property transferred in any calendar year shall not exceed $10,000,000.

         7.03  Consolidations and Mergers.  The Company shall not, and shall not
suffer or permit any Material Subsidiary to, merge, consolidate with or into, or
convey,  transfer,  lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or
in a series of transactions all or substantially  all of its assets (whether now
owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except:

                  (a)    any Material Subsidiary  may  merge  with  the Company,
provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving  corporation,  or
with any one or more  Subsidiaries;  provided,  that if any transaction shall be
between a Subsidiary and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary,  the Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation; and

                  (b)    any Material  Subsidiary may sell all or substantially 
all of its assets (upon voluntary  liquidation or otherwise),  to the Company or
another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

         7.04  Loans and Investments. The Company shall not purchase or acquire,
or  suffer  or  permit  any  Subsidiary  to  purchase  or  acquire,  or make any
commitment therefor,  any capital stock, equity interest,  or any obligations or
other  securities of, or any interest in, any Person,  or make or commit to make
any  Acquisitions,  or make or commit to make any  advance,  loan,  extension of
credit  or  capital  contribution  to or any other  investment  in,  any  Person
including any Affiliate of the Company (together, "Investments"), except for:

                  (a)    Investments  held by the Company or Subsidiary in the 
form of cash equivalents or short term marketable securities;



                                       55
<PAGE>

                  (b)    extensions of credit in the nature of accounts
receivable  or  notes  receivable  arising  from  the  sale or lease of goods or
services in the ordinary course of business;

                  (c)    extensions of credit  by  the  Company  to  any  of its
Subsidiaries or by any of its Subsidiaries to another of its Subsidiaries;

                  (d)    Investments  incurred in order to consummate  
Acquisitions  of Persons in the title  insurance  business  or related  lines of
business;  provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default  results  therefrom;
(ii)  such  Acquisitions  are  undertaken  in  accordance  with  all  applicable
Requirements of Law; and (iii) the prior,  effective written consent or approval
to such  Acquisition  of the board of directors or equivalent  governing body of
the acquiree is obtained;

                  (e)    Investments constituting Permitted Swap  Obligations or
payments  or  advances   under  Swap   Contracts   relating  to  Permitted  Swap
Obligations; and

                  (f)    Other Investments by Insurance  Subsidiaries  permitted
by  the  applicable  laws,   rules  or  regulations   governing  such  Insurance
Subsidiaries.

         7.05  Limitation on Indebtedness.  The Company shall not, and shall not
suffer or permit any Subsidiary to, create,  incur, assume,  suffer to exist, or
otherwise  become or remain  directly or indirectly  liable with respect to, any
Indebtedness, except:

                  (a)    Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement;

                  (b)    Indebtedness  consisting  of   Contingent   Obligations
permitted pursuant to Section 7.08;

                  (c)    Indebtedness described on Schedule 7.05;

                  (d)    Indebtedness  incurred in connection with leases 
permitted pursuant to Section 7.10;

                  (e)    Indebtedness incurred in connection with Arbitrage 
Lines;

                  (f)    Indebtedness   consisting  of   Contingent  Obligations
consisting  of guarantees of  Indebtedness  of insurance  agents of an Insurance
Subsidiary in an aggregate  guaranteed  principal amount outstanding at any time
not in excess of $7,500,000;

                  (g)    Other Indebtedness  incurred  by  the  Company  with an
aggregate   principal  amount  not  to  exceed   $20,000,000  at  any  one  time
outstanding;



                                       56
<PAGE>

                  (h)    Indebtedness  of  the  Relocation   Subsidiaries  in an
aggregate  principal amount outstanding at any time not in excess of $25,000,000
incurred to acquire real estate in the ordinary course of the relocation service
business of the  Relocation  Subsidiaries,  the  maturity of which  Indebtedness
shall not exceed one (1) year from the original  date of such  Indebtedness  and
which  Indebtedness  is  secured  solely by such real  estate  and is  otherwise
non-recourse to the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

                  (i)    Other Indebtedness  incurred  by  the  Company  with an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $125,000,000;  provided that the amount
of the net cash  proceeds of such  Indebtedness  shall  reduce the amount of the
Commitments and shall be used to prepay the Loans,  pursuant to Section 2.05 and
such  Indebtedness  (i) shall  mature no  earlier  than eight (8) years from the
Execution  Date;  and (ii) shall not have any  scheduled  principal  payments or
provide for any  mandatory  prepayments  prior to the date eight years after the
Execution Date.

         7.06  Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, and shall 
not suffer or permit any  Subsidiary  to,  enter into any  transaction  with any
Affiliate  of the  Company,  except  upon  fair  and  reasonable  terms  no less
favorable  to the Company or such  Subsidiary  than would obtain in a comparable
arm's-length  transaction  with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company or such
Subsidiary.

         7.07  Use of Proceeds.  (a) The Company shall not, and shall not suffer
or permit any Subsidiary  to, use any portion of the Loan proceeds,  directly or
indirectly,  (i) to purchase or carry Margin  Stock,  (ii) to repay or otherwise
refinance  indebtedness  of the Company or others  incurred to purchase or carry
Margin  Stock,  (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
any Margin  Stock,  or (iv) to acquire any security in any  transaction  that is
subject to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act.

                  (b)    The Company shall not, directly or indirectly,  use any
portion of the Loan  proceeds  (i) to purchase  Ineligible  Securities  from the
Arranger  during  any  period  in which  the  Arranger  makes a  market  in such
Ineligible  Securities,  (ii) knowingly to purchase  during the  underwriting or
placement period Ineligible Securities being underwritten or privately placed by
the  Arranger,  or (iii) to make payments of principal or interest on Ineligible
Securities underwritten or privately placed by the Arranger and issued by or for
the benefit of the Company or any  Affiliate of the  Company.  The Arranger is a
registered  broker-dealer  and  permitted  to  underwrite  and  deal in  certain
Ineligible  Securities;  and "Ineligible  Securities" means securities which may
not be  underwritten  or dealt in by member banks of the Federal  Reserve System
under  Section 16 of the Banking  Act of 1933 (12 U.S.C.  ss. 24,  Seventh),  as
amended.

         7.08  Contingent  Obligations.  The  Company  shall not,  and shall not
suffer or permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Contingent Obligations except:

                  (a)    endorsements for collection  or deposit in the ordinary
course of business;



                                       57
<PAGE>

                  (b)    Permitted Swap Obligations;

                  (c)    Contingent Obligations of the Company and its 
Subsidiaries  existing  as of the  Execution  Date and listed in  Schedule  7.08
hereto; and

                  (d)    Contingent  Obligations with respect to Surety 
Instruments incurred in the ordinary course of business.

         7.09  Joint  Ventures.  The  Company  shall not  permit  any  Insurance
Subsidiary to enter into any Joint Venture other than in the ordinary  course of
business.

         7.10  Lease Obligations.  The Company shall not, and shall not suffer 
or permit any Subsidiary to, create or suffer to exist any  obligations  for the
payment of rent for any property under lease or agreement to lease, except for:

                  (a)    leases of the Company and of  Subsidiaries in existence
on the Execution Date and any renewal or extension thereof;

                  (b)    operating leases  entered  into  by the  Company or any
Subsidiary after the Execution Date in the ordinary course of business;

                  (c)    leases entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary 
after the Execution Date pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions;

                  (d)    Capital Leases other than those permitted under clauses
(a) and (c) of this Section, entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary after
the Execution Date in the ordinary course of business to finance the acquisition
of equipment.

         7.11  Restricted Payments.  The Company shall not, and shall not suffer
or permit  any  Subsidiary  to,  declare or make any  dividend  payment or other
distribution of assets,  properties,  cash, rights, obligations or securities on
account of any shares of any class of its capital stock, or purchase,  redeem or
otherwise  acquire  for value any shares of its capital  stock or any  warrants,
rights or options to acquire such shares, now or hereafter  outstanding;  except
that the Company and any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may:

                  (a)    declare and make dividend payments or other  
distributions payable solely in its common stock;

                  (b)    purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its 
common stock or warrants or options to acquire any such shares with the proceeds
received  from the  substantially  concurrent  issue of new shares of its common
stock; and



                                       58
<PAGE>

                  (c)    declare or pay cash dividends to its  stockholders  and
purchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire shares of its capital stock or warrants,
rights or options to acquire any such shares for cash in an aggregate amount for
all such dividends, purchases, redemptions and acquisitions not in excess of 25%
of Net Income of the Company  arising after  December 31, 1996 and computed on a
cumulative consolidated basis; provided, that immediately after giving effect to
such proposed action, no Default or Event of Default would exist.

         7.12  ERISA.  The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any
of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) engage in a prohibited  transaction or violation
of the  fiduciary  responsibility  rules  with  respect  to any Plan  which  has
resulted or could  reasonably  expected to result in liability of the Company in
an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000; or (b) engage in a transaction that
could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

         7.13  Change in Business. The Company shall not, and shall not suffer
or  permit  any   Subsidiary  to,  engage  in  any  material  line  of  business
substantially  different from those lines of business  carried on by the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  on the date of this  Agreement  except  lines of business
which provide such additional  products and services  related to the transfer or
servicing of real estate as the Company deems appropriate in the exercise of its
business judgment.

         7.14  Accounting Changes. The Company shall not, and shall not suffer 
or permit any Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment
or reporting  practices,  except as required by SAP or GAAP, as  applicable,  or
change the fiscal year of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

         7.15  Minimum Statutory Surplus. The Company shall cause each of 
Lawyers  Title  Insurance  and  Commonwealth  to maintain at all times (but with
respect  to  Commonwealth,  only from and after  the  consummation  of the Stock
Acquisition) a Statutory Surplus at least equal to  $120,453,372.80  in the case
of Lawyers Title Insurance and $108,351,769.60 in the case of Commonwealth.

         7.16  Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio. The Company shall maintain as
of the end of each fiscal  quarter  during the indicated  fiscal year a ratio of
Debt to Total Capitalization not exceeding:

                Fiscal Year Ending                         Ratio

                December 31, 1998                            40%
                December 31, 1999                            37.5%
                December 31, 2000                            35%
                December 31, 2001                            32%
                       thereafter                            30%



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<PAGE>

         7.17  Debt Service Coverage Ratio. The Company shall maintain as of the
end of each fiscal  quarter a Debt Service  Coverage Ratio greater than or equal
to 2.25 to 1.0.

         7.18  Prepayments.  The  Company  will  not,  and will not  permit  any
Subsidiary to directly or indirectly voluntarily prepay, defease or in substance
defease,  purchase,  redeem,  retire  or  otherwise  acquire,  any  Indebtedness
described in Section 7.05(i).

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         8.01  Event of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an 
"Event of Default":

                  (a)    Non-Payment.  The Company fails to pay, (i) when and as
required to be paid  hereunder,  any amount of  principal  of any Loan,  or (ii)
within five days after the same  becomes  due,  any  interest,  fee or any other
amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

                  (b)    Representation or Warranty. Any representation or 
warranty  by the  Company  made or  deemed  made  herein  or in any  other  Loan
Document,  or  contained  in any  certificate,  document or  financial  or other
statement  by the Company,  or any  Responsible  Officer,  furnished at any time
under this  Agreement,  or in or under any other Loan Document,  is incorrect in
any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

                  (c)    Specific Defaults. The Company fails to perform or 
observe any term,  covenant or agreement  contained in any of Section 6.03, 6.09
or 6.12 or in Article VII; or

                  (d)    Other Defaults. The Company fails to perform or observe
any other  term or  covenant  contained  in this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan
Document,  and such default shall  continue  unremedied  for a period of 20 days
after the  earlier  of (i) the date upon  which a  Responsible  Officer  knew or
reasonably should have known of such failure or (ii) the date upon which written
notice thereof is given to the Company by the Agent or any Bank; or

                  (e)    Cross-Default. (i) The Company or any Subsidiary (A)
fails  to  make  any  payment  in  respect  of any  Indebtedness  or  Contingent
Obligation  (other  than in  respect  of Swap  Contracts),  having an  aggregate
principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including
amounts  owing  to  all  creditors  under  any  combined  or  syndicated  credit



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<PAGE>

arrangement) of more than $15,000,000  when due (whether by scheduled  maturity,
required  prepayment,  acceleration,  demand,  or  otherwise)  and such  failure
continues after the applicable grace or notice period, if any,  specified in the
relevant  document  on the date of such  failure;  or (B)  fails to  perform  or
observe  any other  condition  or  covenant,  or any other  event shall occur or
condition  exist,  under  any  agreement  or  instrument  relating  to any  such
Indebtedness  or Contingent  Obligation,  and such failure  continues  after the
applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on
the date of such failure if the effect of such failure, event or condition is to
cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or
beneficiaries  of such  Indebtedness  (or a  trustee  or agent on behalf of such
holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause such Indebtedness to
be  declared  to be due  and  payable  prior  to its  stated  maturity,  or such
Contingent Obligation to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to
be demanded;  or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early  Termination
Date (as defined in such Swap Contract)  resulting from (1) any event of default
under  such Swap  Contract  as to which the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  is the
Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (2) any Termination Event
(as so defined) as to which the Company or any  Subsidiary is an Affected  Party
(as so defined),  and, in either event, the Swap  Termination  Value owed by the
Company or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $15,000,000; or

                  (f)    Insolvency;  Voluntary Proceedings.  The Company or any
Subsidiary  (i) ceases or fails to be  solvent,  or  generally  fails to pay, or
admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, subject to
applicable grace periods, if any, whether at stated maturity or otherwise;  (ii)
voluntarily  ceases to  conduct  its  business  in the  ordinary  course;  (iii)
commences any Insolvency  Proceeding  with respect to itself;  or (iv) takes any
action to effectuate or authorize any of the foregoing; or

                  (g)    Involuntary Proceedings. (i) Any involuntary Insolvency
Proceeding is commenced or filed against the Company or any  Subsidiary,  or any
writ, judgment,  warrant of attachment,  execution or similar process, is issued
or levied  against  a  substantial  part of the  Company's  or any  Subsidiary's
properties,  and any such proceeding or petition shall not be dismissed, or such
writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall not be
released,  vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after commencement,  filing or
levy;  (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary  admits the material  allegations of a
petition  against it in any  Insolvency  Proceeding,  or an order for relief (or
similar order under non-U.S. law) is ordered in any Insolvency Proceeding; (iii)
the  Company or any  Subsidiary  acquiesces  in the  appointment  of a receiver,
trustee, custodian,  conservator,  liquidator, mortgagee in possession (or agent
therefor),  or other similar  Person for itself or a substantial  portion of its
property or business;  or (iv) any Insurance  Subsidiary shall become subject to
any  conservation,  rehabilitation  or liquidation  order,  directive or mandate
issued by any Governmental Authority; or



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<PAGE>

                  (h)    ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a
Pension Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan which has resulted or could  reasonably  be
expected  to result in  liability  of the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate  under
Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or to the PBGC in an
aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000; (ii) the aggregate amount of Unfunded
Pension  Liability among all Pension Plans at any time exceeds  $15,000,000;  or
(iii) the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate  shall fail to pay when due, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment  payment with respect
to its withdrawal  liability  under Section 4201 of ERISA under a  Multiemployer
Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000; or

                  (i)    Monetary Judgments.   One  or  more   non-interlocutory
judgments,  non- interlocutory orders,  decrees or arbitration awards is entered
against the Company or any Subsidiary by any Governmental Authority involving in
the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by independent  third-party
insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) as to any single or
related series of transactions, incidents or conditions, of $15,000,000 or more,
and the same shall remain unsatisfied, unvacated and unstayed pending appeal for
a period of 10 days after the entry thereof; or

                  (j)    Non-Monetary Judgments. Any non-monetary judgment,  
order,  directive,  mandate  or decree is  entered  against  the  Company or any
Subsidiary  by any  Governmental  Authority  which does or could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,  and there shall be any period of 10
consecutive  days during which a stay of  enforcement of such judgment or order,
by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

                  (k)    Loss of Licenses.  Any  Governmental Authority revokes,
fails to renew or suspends  any  material  license,  permit or  franchise of the
Company or any Subsidiary, or the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason loses
any material  license,  permit or  franchise,  or the Company or any  Subsidiary
suffers the imposition of any restraining order,  escrow,  suspension or impound
of funds in connection  with any proceeding  (judicial or  administrative)  with
respect to any material license, permit or franchise; or

                  (l)    Adverse  Order.  Any  Insurance Subsidiary shall be the
subject of a final  non-appealable  order imposing a fine in an amount in excess
of  $2,000,000  in any single  instance or other such orders  imposing  fines in
excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate after the date of this Agreement by or at
the  request  of any  state  insurance  regulatory  agency  as a  result  of the
violation by such Insurance Subsidiary of such state's applicable insurance laws
or the regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

         8.02  Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs, the Agent shall, at the
request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Banks,

                  (a)    declare the Commitment of each Bank to make Loans to be
terminated, whereupon such Commitments shall be terminated;



                                       62
<PAGE>

                  (b)    declare the unpaid principal amount of all  outstanding
Loans, all interest  accrued and unpaid thereon,  and all other amounts owing or
payable  hereunder or under any other Loan  Document to be  immediately  due and
payable,  without presentment,  demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all
of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company; and

                  (c)    exercise on behalf of itself and the Banks all rights
and  remedies  available  to it and  the  Banks  under  the  Loan  Documents  or
applicable law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any event specified in subsection
(f) or (g) of Section 8.01 (in the case of clause (i) of subsection (g) upon the
expiration of the 60-day period mentioned therein),  the obligation of each Bank
to make Loans shall  automatically  terminate and the unpaid principal amount of
all  outstanding  Loans and all  interest and other  amounts as aforesaid  shall
automatically  become due and  payable  without  further act of the Agent or any
Bank.

         8.03  Rights Not Exclusive.  The rights  provided for in this Agreement
and the other Loan  Documents are  cumulative and are not exclusive of any other
rights,  powers,  privileges or remedies  provided by law or in equity, or under
any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    THE AGENT

         9.01  Appointment  and   Authorization;   "Agent".   Each  Bank  hereby
irrevocably  (subject to Section 9.09)  appoints,  designates and authorizes the
Agent to take such action on its behalf under the  provisions of this  Agreement
and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties
as are  expressly  delegated  to it by the terms of this  Agreement or any other
Loan Document,  together with such powers as are reasonably  incidental thereto.
Notwithstanding  any  provision  to the  contrary  contained  elsewhere  in this
Agreement or in any other Loan Document,  the Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities,  except those expressly set forth hereof,  nor shall the Agent
have or be  deemed to have any  fiduciary  relationship  with any  Bank,  and no
implied  covenants,   functions,   responsibilities,   duties,   obligations  or
liabilities  shall be read into this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or
otherwise  exist  against the Agent.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing sentence, the use of the term "agent" in this Agreement with reference
to the Agent is not  intended  to connote  any  fiduciary  or other  implied (or
express)  obligations  arising  under  agency  doctrine of any  applicable  law.
Instead,  such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended
to create or reflect only an  administrative  relationship  between  independent
contracting parties.



                                       63
<PAGE>

         9.02  Delegation  of Duties.  The Agent may  execute  any of its duties
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents,  employees
or  attorneys-in-fact  and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters  pertaining to such duties.  The Agent shall not be responsible  for the
negligence or misconduct of any agent or  attorney-in-fact  that it selects with
reasonable care.

         9.03  Liability of Agent. None of the Agent-Related Persons shall (a) 
be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in
connection  with this  Agreement or any other Loan Document or the  transactions
contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct),
or (b) be  responsible  in any  manner  to any of the  Banks  for  any  recital,
statement,  representation  or warranty made by the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Company, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or
in any other Loan Document,  or in any certificate,  report,  statement or other
document  referred to or  provided  for in, or received by the Agent under or in
connection  with,  this Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or the validity,
effectiveness,  genuineness,  enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Company or any other party to
any Loan  Document  to perform  its  obligations  hereunder  or  thereunder.  No
Agent-Related  Person shall be under any  obligation to any Bank to ascertain or
to  inquire  as to the  observance  or  performance  of  any  of the  agreements
contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to
inspect the properties,  books or records of the Company or any of the Company's
Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

         9.04  Reliance by Agent.  (a) The Agent shall be entitled to rely,  and
shall be fully  protected  in relying,  upon any  writing,  resolution,  notice,
consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone
message,  statement  or other  document  or  conversation  believed  by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed,  sent or made by the proper  Person
or Persons,  and upon advice and statements of legal counsel  (including counsel
to the  Company),  independent  accountants  and other  experts  selected by the
Agent.

         The Agent shall be fully  justified  in failing or refusing to take any
action  under this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  unless it shall first
receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Banks as it deems appropriate
and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the
Banks  against any and all  liability and expense which may be incurred by it by
reason of taking or continuing  to take any such action.  The Agent shall in all
cases be fully  protected in acting,  or in refraining  from acting,  under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance  with a request or consent of
the  Required  Banks and such  request  and any  action  taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Banks.

                  (b)    For purposes of determining compliance with the 
conditions  specified in Sections  4.01 or 4.02 each Bank that has executed this
Agreement  shall be deemed to have  consented to,  approved or accepted or to be
satisfied  with,  each document or other matter either sent by the Agent to such
Bank for consent, approval,  acceptance or satisfaction,  or required thereunder
to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Bank.



                                       64
<PAGE>

         9.05  Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have 
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, except
with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required
to be paid to the Agent for the  account  of the Banks,  unless the Agent  shall
have  received  written  notice  from a Bank or the  Company  referring  to this
Agreement,  describing  such  Default or Event of Default and stating  that such
notice is a "notice of default". The Agent will notify the Banks and the Company
of its receipt of any such notice. The Agent shall take such action with respect
to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Required Banks in
accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Agent
has received  any such  request,  the Agent may (but shall not be obligated  to)
take such  action,  or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such
Default or Event of Default as it shall deem  advisable or in the best  interest
of the Banks.

         9.06  Credit  Decision.   Each  Bank  acknowledges  that  none  of  the
Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no
act by the Agent hereinafter  taken,  including any review of the affairs of the
Company and its Subsidiaries,  shall be deemed to constitute any  representation
or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the
Agent that it has,  independently  and without  reliance upon any  Agent-Related
Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate,
made  its own  appraisal  of and  investigation  into the  business,  prospects,
operations,  property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries,  and all applicable bank regulatory laws relating
to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into
this  Agreement  and to extend credit to the Company  hereunder.  Each Bank also
represents  that  it  will,   independently   and  without   reliance  upon  any
Agent-Related  Person and based on such  documents and  information  as it shall
deem  appropriate  at the  time,  continue  to  make  its own  credit  analysis,
appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents,  and to make such investigations as it deems necessary
to inform itself as to the business, prospects,  operations, property, financial
and other  condition and  creditworthiness  of the Company.  Except for notices,
reports and other  documents  expressly  hereof  required to be furnished to the
Banks by the  Agent,  the  Agent  shall not have any duty or  responsibility  to
provide any Bank with any credit or other  information  concerning the business,
prospects,  operations,  property,  financial  and  other  condition  or  credit
worthiness  of the  Company  which  may come into the  possession  of any of the
Agent-Related Persons.

         9.07  Indemnification  of  Agent.  Whether  or  not  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby are consummated,  the Banks shall indemnify upon demand the
Agent-Related  Persons  (to the  extent  not  reimbursed  by or on behalf of the
Company and without  limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), pro rata,
from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided, however, that no
Bank shall be liable for the payment to the Agent-Related Persons of any portion
of such  Indemnified  Liabilities  resulting  solely  from such  Person's  gross
negligence or



                                       65
<PAGE>

willful  misconduct.  Without  limitation  of the  foregoing,  each  Bank  shall
reimburse  the  Agent  upon  demand  for  its  ratable  share  of any  costs  or
out-of-pocket  expenses  (including  Attorney  Costs)  incurred  by the Agent in
connection   with  the   preparation,   execution,   delivery,   administration,
modification,  amendment or enforcement  (whether  through  negotiations,  legal
proceedings  or  otherwise)  of,  or  legal  advice  in  respect  of  rights  or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document
contemplated  by or  referred  to hereof,  to the  extent  that the Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Company.  The undertaking in
this Section  shall  survive the payment of all  Obligations  hereunder  and the
resignation or replacement of the Agent.

         9.08  Agent in Individual Capacity.  BofA and its  Affiliates  may make
loans to,  issue  letters of credit for the account of,  accept  deposits  from,
acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking,  trust,
financial  advisory,  underwriting  or other  business  with the Company and its
Subsidiaries  and  Affiliates  as though BofA were not the Agent  hereunder  and
without notice to or consent of the Banks. The Banks acknowledge that,  pursuant
to such activities, BofA or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the
Company  or  its  Affiliates  (including  information  that  may be  subject  to
confidentiality  obligations  in favor of the  Company or such  Subsidiary)  and
acknowledge  that  the  Agent  shall  be under no  obligation  to  provide  such
information to them. With respect to its Loans,  BofA shall have the same rights
and powers  under this  Agreement as any other Bank and may exercise the same as
though it were not the Agent,  and the terms "Bank" and "Banks"  include BofA in
its individual capacity.

         9.09  Successor Agent. The Agent may, and at the request of the 
Required  Banks,  so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
shall,  resign as Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Banks.  If the Agent resigns
under this  Agreement,  the Required  Banks shall appoint from among the Banks a
successor  agent for the Banks which  successor agent shall, so long as no Event
of Default has occurred  and is  continuing,  be approved by the Company.  If no
successor  agent is appointed  prior to the effective date of the resignation of
the  Agent,  the  Agent may  appoint,  after  consulting  with the Banks and the
Company,  a successor  agent from among the Banks.  Upon the  acceptance  of its
appointment as successor agent hereunder,  such successor agent shall succeed to
all the rights,  powers and duties of the  retiring  Agent and the term  "Agent"
shall mean such successor agent and the retiring Agent's appointment, powers and
duties as Agent shall be  terminated.  After any  retiring  Agent's  resignation
hereunder as Agent,  the  provisions  of this Article IX and Sections  10.04 and
10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions  taken or omitted to be taken
by it while it was  Agent  under  this  Agreement.  If no  successor  agent  has
accepted  appointment as Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring
Agent's  notice  of  resignation,   the  retiring  Agent's   resignation   shall
nevertheless  thereupon  become effective and the Banks shall perform all of the
duties of the Agent  hereunder  until such time,  if any, as the Required  Banks
appoint a successor agent as provided for above.



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<PAGE>

        9.10  Withholding  Tax.  (a)  If any  Bank  is a  "foreign  corporation,
partnership  or trust"  within  the  meaning  of the Code and such  Bank  claims
exemption  from, or a reduction of, U.S.  withholding tax under Sections 1441 or
1442 of the Code, such Bank agrees with and in favor of the Agent, to deliver to
the Agent:

                         (i)    if such Bank  claims  an  exemption  from,  or a
         reduction of,  withholding  tax under a United  States tax treaty,  two
         properly  completed  and  executed  copies of IRS Form 1001  before the
         payment  of any  interest  in the first  calendar  year and  before the
         payment of any interest in each third  succeeding  calendar year during
         which interest may be paid under this Agreement;

                         (ii)   if such Bank claims that  interest paid under 
         this Agreement is exempt from United States  withholding tax because it
         is effectively connected with a United States trade or business of such
         Bank,  two  properly  completed  and  executed  copies of IRS Form 4224
         before the payment of any interest is due in the first  taxable year of
         such Bank and in each succeeding taxable year of such Bank during which
         interest may be paid under this Agreement; and

                         (iii)  such other form or forms as may be required 
         under the Code or other laws of the  United  States as a  condition  to
         exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax.

Such Bank  agrees to  promptly  notify the Agent of any change in  circumstances
which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

                  (b)    If any Bank claims exemption  from,  or  reduction  of,
withholding  tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form 1001 and
such Bank sells, assigns,  grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all
or part of the  Obligations  of the  Company to such Bank,  such Bank  agrees to
notify  the  Agent  of the  percentage  amount  in  which  it is no  longer  the
beneficial  owner of  Obligations  of the Company to such Bank. To the extent of
such  percentage  amount,  the Agent will treat such  Bank's IRS Form 1001 as no
longer valid.

                  (c)    If any Bank  claiming   exemption  from  United  States
withholding tax by filing IRS Form 4224 with the Agent sells, assigns,  grants a
participation  in, or otherwise  transfers all or part of the Obligations of the
Company to such Bank,  such Bank agrees to  undertake  sole  responsibility  for
complying with the  withholding  tax  requirements  imposed by Sections 1441 and
1442 of the Code.

                  (d)    If any Bank is entitled to a reduction  in the  
applicable  withholding tax, the Agent may withhold from any interest payment to
such Bank an amount  equivalent to the applicable  withholding  tax after taking
into  account  such  reduction.  However,  if the  forms or other  documentation
required by subsection (a) of this Section are not delivered to the Agent,



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<PAGE>

then the Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Bank not providing
such  forms  or other  documentation  an  amount  equivalent  to the  applicable
withholding  tax  imposed  by  Sections  1441  and  1442  of the  Code,  without
reduction.

                  (e)    If the IRS or any other Governmental  Authority  of the
United  States  or other  jurisdiction  asserts  a claim  that the Agent did not
properly  withhold  tax  from  amounts  paid to or for the  account  of any Bank
(because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed, or
because such Bank failed to notify the Agent of a change in circumstances  which
rendered the exemption from, or reduction of,  withholding tax  ineffective,  or
for any other reason) such Bank shall  indemnify the Agent fully for all amounts
paid,  directly  or  indirectly,  by the  Agent as tax or  otherwise,  including
penalties and interest,  and including any taxes imposed by any  jurisdiction on
the amounts payable to the Agent under this Section, together with all costs and
expenses  (including  Attorney  Costs).  The  obligation of the Banks under this
subsection  shall survive the payment of all  Obligations and the resignation or
replacement of the Agent.

         9.11  Co-Agents.  None of the Banks  identified  on the facing  page or
signature pages of this Agreement as a "documentation agent" or "co-agent" shall
have any right, power, obligation, liability,  responsibility or duty under this
Agreement other than those applicable to all Banks as such. Without limiting the
foregoing,  none of the  Banks  so  identified  as a  "documentation  agent"  or
"co-agent" shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary  relationship  with any
Bank. Each Bank acknowledges  that it has not relied,  and will not rely, on any
of the Banks so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking
or not taking action hereunder.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         10.01  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any
departure by the Company therefrom,  shall be effective unless the same shall be
in writing  and  signed by the  Required  Banks (or by the Agent at the  written
request of the Required  Banks) and the Company and  acknowledged  by the Agent,
and then any such  waiver or consent  shall be  effective  only in the  specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given;  provided,  however, that
no such waiver, amendment, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all
the  Banks  and  the  Company  and  acknowledged  by  the  Agent,  do any of the
following:

                  (a)    increase or extend  the  Commitment  of  any  Bank  (or
reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02);



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<PAGE>

                  (b)    except as provided in Section  2.06(a),  postpone or 
delay any date  fixed by this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  for any
payment of principal,  interest,  fees or other amounts due to the Banks (or any
of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

                  (c)    reduce the principal  of, or except  with  respect to a
demand of increment  interest  payable  pursuant to Section  2.08(c) the rate of
interest  specified  herein on any Loan,  or  (subject to clause (ii) below) any
fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

                  (d)    change the  percentage  of  the  Commitments  or of the
aggregate  unpaid  principal amount of the Loans which is required for the Banks
or any of them to take any action hereunder; or

                  (e)    amend this Section 10.01, Section 2.11 or Section 2.14,
or any provision hereof providing for consent or other action by all Banks;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing  and signed by the Agent in addition  to the  Required  Banks or all the
Banks,  as the case may be,  affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or
rights or privileges  thereunder  waived,  in a writing  executed by the parties
thereto.

         10.02  Notices. (a) All notices, requests, consents, approvals, waivers
and other  communications  shall be in writing  (including,  unless the  context
expressly  otherwise  provides,  by facsimile  transmission,  provided  that any
matter  transmitted  by the  Company  by  facsimile  (i)  shall  be  immediately
confirmed  by a  telephone  call to the  recipient  at the number  specified  on
Schedule 10.02 hereto, and (ii) shall be followed promptly by delivery of a hard
copy  original  thereof)  and  mailed,  faxed or  delivered,  to the  address or
facsimile number specified for notices on Schedule 10.02 hereto; or, as directed
to the Company or the Agent,  to such other  address as shall be  designated  by
such party in a written  notice to the other  parties,  and as  directed  to any
other party,  at such other  address as shall be  designated  by such party in a
written  notice to the  Company and the Agent.  Notices to the Company  shall be
delivered to:

                             Lawyers Title Corporation
                             6630 West Broad Street
                             Richmond, Virginia 23230
                             Attention:  G. William Evans
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                             Telephone:  804-281-6752
                             Telecopier: 804-287-8109



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<PAGE>

                             With a copy to:

                             Williams Mullen Christian & Dobbins
                             Two James Center
                             1021 East Cary Street
                             16th Floor
                             Richmond, Virginia 23219
                             Attention:  Theodore L. Chandler, Jr.
                             Telephone:  804-783-6420
                             Telecopier: 804-783-6507

                  (b)    All such notices,  requests and communications shall, 
when  transmitted by overnight  delivery,  or faxed, be effective when delivered
for overnight (next-day)  delivery,  or transmitted in legible form by facsimile
machine,  respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date
deposited  into the U.S.  mail,  or if  delivered,  upon  delivery,  except that
notices  pursuant to Article II or IX to the Agent shall not be effective  until
actually received by the Agent.

                  (c)    Any agreement of the  Agent  and the  Banks  to receive
certain  notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the  convenience and at
the request of the Company. The Agent and the Banks shall be entitled to rely on
the authority of any Person  purporting to be a Person authorized by the Company
to give such notice and the Agent and the Banks shall not have any  liability to
the Company or other  Person on account of any action  taken or not taken by the
Agent or the Banks in reliance  upon such  telephonic or facsimile  notice.  The
obligation of the Company to repay the Loans shall not be affected in any way or
to any  extent by any  failure  by the Agent  and the Banks to  receive  written
confirmation  of any telephonic or facsimile  notice or the receipt by the Agent
and the Banks of a confirmation  which is at variance with the terms  reasonably
understood  by the Agent  and the Banks to be  contained  in the  telephonic  or
facsimile notice.

         10.03  No Waiver;  Cumulative Remedies.  No failure to exercise  and no
delay in exercising,  on the part of the Agent or any Bank,  any right,  remedy,
power or privilege  hereunder,  shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right,  remedy,  power or privilege  hereunder
preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the  exercise  of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege.

         10.04  Costs and Expenses. The Company shall:

                  (a)    whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated,  pay or reimburse BofA (including in its capacity as Agent) and the
Arranger within five Business Days after demand (subject to subsection  4.01(e))
for all  reasonable  costs  and  expenses  incurred



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<PAGE>

by BofA (including in its capacity as Agent) and the Arranger in connection with
the  development,   preparation,  delivery,   administration,   syndication  and
execution of, and any amendment,  supplement, waiver or modification to (in each
case,  whether or not  consummated),  this Agreement,  any Loan Document and any
other  documents  prepared  in  connection   herewith  or  therewith,   and  the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,  including
reasonable  Attorney Costs incurred by BofA (including in its capacity as Agent)
and the Arranger with respect thereto; and

                  (b)    pay or reimburse the Agent, the  Arranger and each Bank
within five Business Days after demand  (subject to subsection  4.01(e)) for all
reasonable  costs and expenses  (including  Attorney  Costs) incurred by them in
connection with the enforcement,  attempted enforcement,  or preservation of any
rights or remedies  under this  Agreement or any other Loan Document  during the
existence of an Event of Default or after  acceleration of the Loans  (including
in connection  with any  "workout" or  restructuring  regarding  the Loans,  and
including in any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding).

         10.05  Company   Indemnification.   Whether  or  not  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby are consummated,  the Company shall  indemnify,  defend and
hold  the  Agent-Related  Persons,  and each  Bank  and  each of its  respective
officers, directors,  employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an
"Indemnified  Person")  harmless  from  and  against  any and  all  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
charges,  expenses and disbursements  (including  Attorney Costs) of any kind or
nature  whatsoever  which  may at any  time  (including  at any  time  following
repayment of the Loans and the  termination,  resignation  or replacement of the
Agent or replacement of any Bank) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against
any such Person in any way  relating to or arising out of this  Agreement or any
document contemplated by or referred to hereof, or the transactions contemplated
hereby, or any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection
with  any  of the  foregoing,  including  with  respect  to  any  investigation,
litigation  or  proceeding  (including  any  Insolvency  Proceeding or appellate
proceeding)  related to or arising out of this Agreement or the Loans or the use
of the  proceeds  thereof,  whether  or not any  Indemnified  Person  is a party
thereto  (all  the  foregoing,  collectively,  the  "Indemnified  Liabilities");
provided, that the Company shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified
Person with respect to Indemnified  Liabilities  resulting solely from the gross
negligence or willful  misconduct of such Indemnified  Person. The agreements in
this Section shall survive payment of all other Obligations.

         10.06  Payments  Set Aside.  To the  extent  that the  Company  makes a
payment  to the Agent or the  Banks,  or the Agent or the Banks  exercise  their
right of set-off,  and such  payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside or required  (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the
Agent or such Bank in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other party, in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then (a)
to the  extent  of such



                                       71
<PAGE>

recovery  the  obligation  or part thereof  originally  intended to be satisfied
shall be revived and  continued  in full force and effect as if such payment had
not been made or such  set-off  had not  occurred,  and (b) each Bank  severally
agrees to pay to the  Agent  upon  demand  its pro rata  share of any  amount so
recovered from or repaid by the Agent.

         10.07  Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall
be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and their
respective  successors  and  assigns,  except that the Company may not assign or
transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the Agent and each Bank.

         10.08  Assignments,  Participations,  etc.  (a) Any Bank may,  with the
written consent of the Agent and at all times other than during the existence of
an Event of Default of the Company,  which  consents  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld,  at any time  assign and  delegate to one or more  Eligible  Assignees
(provided that no written  consent of the Company or the Agent shall be required
in  connection  with any  assignment  and  delegation  by a Bank to an  Eligible
Assignee  that is an  Affiliate of such Bank) (each an  "Assignee")  all, or any
ratable  part of all, of the Loans,  the  Commitments  and the other  rights and
obligations of such Bank  hereunder,  in a minimum amount of $10,000,000  or, if
the Commitment for such Bank is less than $10,000,000, then the entire amount of
the  Commitment  and the other rights and  obligations  of such Bank  hereunder;
provided,  however,  that the Company and the Agent may  continue to deal solely
and directly  with such Bank in  connection  with the interest so assigned to an
Assignee  until (i) written  notice of such  assignment,  together  with payment
instructions,  addresses and related  information  with respect to the Assignee,
shall  have  been  given  to the  Company  and the  Agent  by such  Bank and the
Assignee;  (ii) such Bank and its Assignee  shall have  delivered to the Company
and the  Agent an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  in the form of  Exhibit E hereto
("Assignment  and  Acceptance")  together with any Note or Notes subject to such
assignment  and  (iii) the  assignor  Bank or  Assignee  has paid to the Agent a
processing fee in the amount of $3,500.

                  (b)    From and after the date  that  the  Agent  notifies the
assignor Bank that it has received (and provided its consent with respect to) an
executed   Assignment  and  Acceptance  and  payment  of  the   above-referenced
processing fee, (i) the Assignee  thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the
extent that rights and  obligations  hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant
to such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  shall have the rights and obligations of a
Bank under the Loan  Documents,  and (ii) the assignor Bank shall, to the extent
that rights and  obligations  hereunder and under the other Loan  Documents have
been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and  Acceptance,  relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations under the Loan Documents.

                  (c)    Within five (5) Business  Days after its receipt of 
notice by the Agent that it has received an executed  Assignment  and Acceptance
and  payment of the  processing  fee,  (and  provided  that it  consents to such
assignment in accordance  with subsection  10.08(a)),  the



                                       72
<PAGE>

Company  shall  execute  and  deliver to the Agent,  new Notes  evidencing  such
Assignee's  assigned Loans and Commitment and, if the assignor Bank has retained
a portion of its Loans and its  Commitment,  replacement  Notes in the principal
amount of the Loans  retained by the assignor Bank (such Notes to be in exchange
for, but not in payment of, the Notes held by such Bank).  Immediately upon each
Assignee's   making  its   processing  fee  payment  under  the  Assignment  and
Acceptance, this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to the extent, but only
to the  extent,  necessary  to reflect  the  addition  of the  Assignee  and the
resulting  adjustment  of the  Commitments  arising  therefrom.  The  Commitment
allocated to each Assignee  shall reduce such  Commitments of the assigning Bank
pro tanto.

                  (d)    Any Bank may at any time sell to one or more commercial
banks  or  other  Persons  not  Affiliates  of  the  Company  (a  "Participant")
participating  interests in any Loans, the Commitment of that Bank and the other
interests  of that Bank (the  "Originator")  hereunder  and under the other Loan
Documents;  provided,  however, that (i) the Originator's obligations under this
Agreement  shall remain  unchanged,  (ii) the  Originator  shall  remain  solely
responsible for the performance of such  obligations,  (iii) the Company and the
Agent  shall  continue  to deal  solely  and  directly  with the  Originator  in
connection with the Originator's rights and obligations under this Agreement and
the  other  Loan  Documents,  and  (iv) no Bank  shall  transfer  or  grant  any
participating  interest  under which the  Participant  has rights to approve any
amendment  to, or any consent or waiver with  respect to, this  Agreement or any
other Loan  Document,  except to the extent  such  amendment,  consent or waiver
would  require  unanimous  consent of the Banks as  described in clause (a) (but
only in respect of any increase in the Originator's  Commitment),  (b) or (c) of
the first proviso to Section 10.01. In the case of any such  participation,  the
Participant shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 10.05 as
though it were also a Bank hereunder;  provided,  that the Participant shall not
receive any amount  thereunder  in excess of what would have been payable to the
participating  Bank.  If amounts  outstanding  under this  Agreement are due and
unpaid,  or shall have been  declared or shall have become due and payable  upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default,  each Participant shall be deemed to have
the right of set-off in respect of its  participating  interest in amounts owing
under this  Agreement  to the same extent as if the amount of its  participating
interest were owing directly to it as a Bank under this Agreement.

                  (e)    Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, 
any Bank may at any time create a security  interest  in, or pledge,  all or any
portion of its rights under and interest in this  Agreement and the Note held by
it in favor of any Federal  Reserve Bank in accordance  with Regulation A of the
FRB or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR ss.203.14,  and such Federal Reserve Bank
may  enforce  such pledge or security  interest  in any manner  permitted  under
applicable law.

         10.09  Confidentiality.  Each  Bank  agrees  to take and to  cause  its
Affiliates to take normal and  reasonable  precautions  and exercise due care to
maintain the confidentiality of all



                                       73
<PAGE>

information provided to it by the Company or any Subsidiary,  or by the Agent on
the Company's or such  Subsidiary's  behalf,  under this  Agreement or any other
Loan  Document,  and  neither  it nor any of its  Affiliates  shall use any such
information  other than in connection  with or in  enforcement of this Agreement
and the other  Loan  Documents  or in  connection  with  other  business  now or
hereafter existing or contemplated with the Company or any Subsidiary; except to
the extent such information (i) was or becomes generally available to the public
other  than as a result  of  disclosure  by the  Bank,  or (ii)  was or  becomes
available  on a  non-confidential  basis from a source  other than the  Company,
provided that such source is not bound by a  confidentiality  agreement with the
Company known to the Bank;  provided,  however,  that any Bank may disclose such
information   (A)  at  the  request  or  pursuant  to  any  requirement  of  any
Governmental  Authority  to which the Bank is subject or in  connection  with an
examination  of such Bank by any such  authority;  (B)  pursuant  to subpoena or
other  court  process;  (C)  when  required  to  do so in  accordance  with  the
provisions of any applicable  Requirement  of Law; (D) to the extent  reasonably
required in connection  with any  litigation or proceeding to which the Agent or
any  Bank  or  their  respective  Affiliates  may be  party;  (E) to the  extent
reasonably  required in connection with the exercise of any remedy  hereunder or
under any other Loan Document; (F) to such Bank's independent auditors and other
professional advisors; (G) to any Participant or Assignee,  actual or potential,
provided  that  such  Person   agrees  in  writing  to  keep  such   information
confidential to the same extent required of the Banks  hereunder;  (H) as to any
Bank or its  Affiliate,  as  expressly  permitted  under  the terms of any other
document  or  agreement  regarding  confidentiality  to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is party or is deemed party with such Bank or such Affiliate; and (I)
to its Affiliates.

         10.10  Set-off.  In  addition  to any rights and  remedies of the Banks
provided  by  law,  if an  Event  of  Default  exists  or the  Loans  have  been
accelerated,  each Bank is authorized at any time and from time to time, without
prior notice to the Company,  any such notice being waived by the Company to the
fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  to set off and apply  any and all  deposits
(general or special, time or demand,  provisional or final) at any time held by,
and other  indebtedness  at any time owing by, such Bank to or for the credit or
the account of the Company against any and all  Obligations  owing to such Bank,
now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Agent or such Bank
shall have made demand under this  Agreement  or any Loan  Document and although
such  Obligations  may be contingent or unmatured.  Each Bank agrees promptly to
notify the Company and the Agent after any such set-off and application  made by
such Bank;  provided,  however,  that the failure to give such notice  shall not
affect the validity of such set-off and application.

         10.11  Automatic  Debits of Fees.  With respect to any fee or any other
cost or expense (including Attorney Costs) due and payable to the Agent, BofA or
the Arranger under the Loan Documents, the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
BofA to debit any  deposit  account of the  Company  with BofA in an amount such
that the aggregate amount debited from all such



                                       74
<PAGE>

deposit accounts does not exceed such fee or other cost or expense. If there are
insufficient  funds in such  deposit  accounts to cover the amount of the fee or
other cost or expense  then due,  such debits  will be reversed  (in whole or in
part, in BofA's sole  discretion) and such amount not debited shall be deemed to
be unpaid. No such debit under this Section shall be deemed a set-off.

         10.12  Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc. Each Bank shall
notify the Agent in writing of any  changes in the  address to which  notices to
the Bank should be  directed,  of addresses  of any Lending  Office,  of payment
instructions  in respect of all payments to be made to it hereunder  and of such
other administrative information as the Agent shall reasonably request.

         10.13  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in any number of
separate  counterparts,  each of  which,  when so  executed,  shall be deemed an
original,  and all of said  counterparts  taken  together  shall  be  deemed  to
constitute but one and the same instrument.

         10.14  Severability. The illegality or unenforceability of any 
provision of this  Agreement or any instrument or agreement  required  hereunder
shall not in any way  affect or impair the  legality  or  enforceability  of the
remaining  provisions of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement  required
hereunder.

         10.15  No Third Parties Benefited.  This  Agreement is made and entered
into for the sole  protection and legal benefit of the Company,  the Banks,  the
Agent and the Agent-Related Persons, and their permitted successors and assigns,
and no other Person shall be a direct or indirect legal  beneficiary of, or have
any  direct  or  indirect  cause of  action or claim in  connection  with,  this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

         10.16  GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF  ILLINOIS  (WITHOUT  GIVING  EFFECT  TO  CONFLICTS  OF LAWS  PROVISIONS
THEREOF); PROVIDED, THAT THE AGENT AND THE BANKS SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING
UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

                  (b)    ANY LEGAL ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING  WITH  RESPECT TO THIS
AGREEMENT  OR ANY OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS AND BY
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE AGENT AND THE
BANKS CONSENTS,  FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION  OF THOSE  COURTS.  EACH OF THE  COMPANY,  THE  AGENT AND THE BANKS
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE
OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON  CONVENIENS,  WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE BRINGING



                                       75
<PAGE>

OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY DOCUMENT  RELATED  HERETO.  THE COMPANY,  THE AGENT AND THE BANKS EACH WAIVE
PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS,  COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS,  WHICH MAY BE MADE
BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY ILLINOIS LAW.

         10.17  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  THE COMPANY, THE BANKS AND THE AGENT EACH
WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION
BASED  UPON OR  ARISING  OUT OF OR  RELATED  TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS,  OR THE TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  HEREBY OR THEREBY, IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY OF THE PARTIES AGAINST
ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AGENT-RELATED  PERSON,  PARTICIPANT OR ASSIGNEE,  WHETHER
WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS,  TORT CLAIMS,  OR OTHERWISE.  THE COMPANY,  THE
BANKS AND THE AGENT EACH  AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION  SHALL BE
TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL  WITHOUT A JURY.  WITHOUT  LIMITING  THE  FOREGOING,  THE
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR  RESPECTIVE  RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED
BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION,  COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING
WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS OR ANY PROVISION  HEREOF OR THEREOF.
THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,  RENEWALS,  SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.


                                       76
<PAGE>

         10.18  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement,  together with the other Loan
Documents,  embodies the entire agreement and  understanding  among the Company,
the Banks and the Agent, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous  agreements
and understandings of such Persons,  verbal or written,  relating to the subject
matter hereof and thereof.

                            [signature pages follow]



                                       77
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly  executed  and  delivered  in Chicago,  Illinois  by their  proper and duly
authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                    LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                    AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                                    as Agent

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                    AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    CRESTAR BANK,
                                    as Documentation Agent and a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    BARNETT BANK, N.A., as Co-Agent and a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________



                                       78
<PAGE>

                                    FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARYLAND, as
                                    Co-Agent and a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Co-Agent and a Bank
                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    SUN TRUST BANK, CENTRAL, FLORIDA,
                                    NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Agent and a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Co-Agent
                                    and a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    COMERICA BANK, as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    MELLON BANK, N.A., as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________



                                       79
<PAGE>

                                    NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A., as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________


                                    PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

                                    By:___________________________
                                    Title:________________________



                                       80
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 2.01


                                   COMMITMENTS
                               AND PRO RATA SHARES


                                                                        Pro Rata
         Bank                                  Commitment               Share
                                          
Bank of America National                        
Trust and Savings                         
Association                                    $ 30,000,000             12.632%
                                                 
Crestar Bank                                   $ 30,000,000             12.632%
                                                 
Barnett Bank, N.A.                             $ 20,000,000              8.421%
                                                 
First National Bank of Maryland                $ 20,000,000              8.421%
                                                 
Fleet National Bank                            $ 20,000,000              8.421%
                                                 
SunTrust Bank                                  $ 20,000,000              8.421%
                                                 
Union Bank of California, N.A.                 $ 20,000,000              8.421%
                                                 
Comerica Bank                                  $ 15,500,000              6.526%
                                                 
First Union National Bank                      $ 15,500,000              6.526%
                                                 
Mellon Bank, N.A.                              $ 15,500,000              6.526%
                                                 
NationsBank of Texas, N.A.                     $ 15,500,000              6.526%
                                                 
PNC Bank, National Association                 $ 15,500,000              6.526%
                                                
                                          
        TOTAL                                  $237,500,000              100%

<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.03

                           Governmental Authorization

Items pertaining to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents:

None.

Items  pertaining  to  the  transactions  contemplated  by  the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement:

1.       Form A Filings.  Applications for Approval of Acquisition of Control of
         or Merger  with a  Domestic  Insurer  (Form A) have  been  filed in and
         approvals must be obtained from the following states: Alabama, Arizona,
         California,  Florida,  Maryland,  New Jersey,  New York, Ohio,  Oregon,
         Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.

2.       Form  E  Filings.  Pre-Acquisition  Notification  Forms  Regarding  the
         Potential  Competitive  Impact of a Proposed Merger or Acquisition by a
         Non-Domiciliary  Insurer Doing  Business in this State or by a Domestic
         Insurer (Form E) have been filed in and approvals must be obtained from
         the  following  states:  Arkansas,   Colorado,  Delaware,  District  of
         Columbia,  Georgia,  Idaho,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Minnesota,
         Missouri,  New Hampshire,  North Dakota, South Carolina,  South Dakota,
         Virginia and Washington.

3.       FTC  Order.  Lawyers  Title  Insurance  is a party  respondent  to that
         certain Modified Order to Cease and Desist,  entered April 22, 1994, by
         the United States Federal Trade  Commission  ("FTC") at Docket No. 9190
         (the "FTC Order").  Section IV of the FTC Order requires  Lawyers Title
         Insurance,  and each other party respondent  thereto, to notify the FTC
         at least  thirty  days prior to any  proposed  change in the  corporate
         respondent such as ..."assignment or sale resulting in the emergence of
         a successor  corporation,  the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries,
         or any other  change in the  corporation  which may  affect  compliance
         obligations"  arising out of the FTC Order.  The terms of the FTC Order
         will be complied with.

4.       Hart-Scott-Rodino   Act.  The  requirements  of  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino
         Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, must be satisfied.




<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.05

                                   Litigation

                                      None.



<PAGE>


                          SCHEDULES 5.07(a) and 5.07(c)

                                ERISA Compliance

Schedule 5.07(a):

Nothing to disclose.

Schedule 5.07(c):

1.       Commonwealth  maintains the Commonwealth  Land Title Insurance  Company
         Pension  Plan.  The Company has reviewed the  actuarial  report for the
         January 1,  1997-December 31, 1997 plan year of Commonwealth,  prepared
         as of  January 1, 1997 by Aon  Consulting.  The 1997  Actuarial  Report
         shows that,  while investment  performance  through 1996 has eliminated
         the actuarial underfunding of the Plan (with the 1997 report showing an
         actuarial  funding surplus of approximately  $1.3 million as of January
         1,  1997),  the  unfunded  current  liability  of the Plan as of 1/1/97
         remains  at  approximately   $10.992  million,  with  a  current  total
         liability  projected  for December 31, 1997 of $61.976  million,  but a
         projected value of assets of only $50.984 million. As such, the funding
         level of the plan on a  current  (termination)  basis is  approximately
         85%.  Accordingly,  the 1997 actuarial report provides that the minimum
         required  contribution for the 1997 plan year is  approximately  $2.749
         million  (and  the  maximum   deductible   contribution   for  1997  is
         approximately $10.991 million).

2.       Commonwealth/Transnation   have   entered   into   termination   letter
         agreements with former employees  pursuant to which these employees are
         entitled   to   monetary   payments   from    Commonwealth/Transnation.
         Commonwealth  and  Transnation  do not  consider  these  agreements  to
         constitute  "Company Plans" as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement.
         Consequently,  no  governmental  filings have been made with respect to
         such letter agreements.

With  respect  to item 2 above,  the  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  provides  that
Reliance  Insurance  Company shall  indemnify the Company for any liability that
may arise with respect to such item.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.10

                                      Taxes

Disclosures with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries  prior to the Stock
Acquisition:

The consolidated  Federal Income Tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the taxable years ended June 30, 1994 and June 30, 1995 have been audited by
the IRS. One issue  proposed by the  examining  agent for 1995 was not agreed to
and is being  appealed by the Company.  This issue involves only the timing of a
compensation  deduction to a Company  subsidiary  for payments to employees  and
other service providers in termination of non-qualified stock options. The total
tax that would result from this issue if the IRS position is sustained  would be
approximately $1,200,000 for 1995 and 1996 with the entire amount recoverable by
1998.

Disclosures with respect to Commonwealth, Transnation and their Subsidiaries for
periods prior to the Stock Acquisition:

1.       The consolidated federal income tax returns of Reliance Group Holdings,
         Inc. for 1986 through 1991 have been audited.  The proposed adjustments
         include adjustments to the taxable incomes of Commonwealth, Transnation
         and their Subsidiaries. The federal statute of limitations for Reliance
         Group  Holdings,  Inc.  for 1986  through  1994 has  been  extended  to
         December 31, 1998.

2.       The  California  State  Board of  Equalization  has  issued  Notices of
         Deficiency  Assessments for  Retaliatory  Tax to  Commonwealth  for the
         years  1989 and  1994.  The  California  Department  of  Insurance  has
         notified  Commonwealth  that it was  contemplating  recommending to the
         State Board of Equalization to issue deficiency assessments for the tax
         years   1992-1994,   inclusive,   and  has  allowed   Commonwealth  the
         opportunity  to  comment  on  its  proposed  action.   Commonwealth  is
         currently in the process of responding to the Department of Insurance's
         letter which has been extended to December 31, 1997.

3.       Pennsylvania has assessed State Title Insurance  Company for additional
         Shares Tax for the years 1989,  1993, 1994 and 1995. The issue for 1989
         deals with a one-time increase in the Shares Tax rate which State Title
         is appealing.  The 1993-1995  issue deals with the inclusion of certain
         amounts  in the value of State  Title for  subsidiaries  prior to their
         acquisition that Pennsylvania believes should be included.  State Title
         is appealing the assessments. The additional tax has been paid for each
         year which is required in order to appeal the issues.

4.       Pennsylvania has assessed Industrial Valley Title Insurance Company for
         additional  Shares  Tax for the  year  1989.  The  issue  deals  with a
         one-time  increase in the Shares Tax rate which Industrial Valley Title
         Insurance  Company is appealing.  The assessment is for a year prior to
         Commonwealth's acquisition of Industrial Valley Title Insurance



<PAGE>

         Company and the tax has not been paid. In  connection  with this issue,
         Commonwealth  has a separate  Tax  Indemnification  Letter  from Ensign
         Trust, PLC, a 50% owner of IVT Group, Inc.

The Stock  Purchase  Agreement  provides that Reliance  Insurance  Company shall
indemnify  the Company for all taxes with respect to  Commonwealth,  Transnation
and their  Subsidiaries for any tax period prior to the Stock Acquisition except
for (i) amounts payable by Commonwealth,  Transnation and their  Subsidiaries to
Reliance  Insurance Company with respect to any consolidated  Federal Income Tax
returns of the  Reliance  Group  Holdings,  Inc.  affiliated  group for a period
beginning on or after January 1, 1997,  (ii) certain  taxes,  other than federal
income taxes,  for returns timely filed after the Stock  Acquisition,  and (iii)
certain taxes,  other than federal income taxes, for periods after September 30,
1997.



<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 5.11

                               Financial Condition

1.       The  Company  guaranteed  a loan by  International  Bank of Commerce in
         Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  in favor of Alex H.  Harris in the  amount of
         $1,750,000.  Mr.  Harris used the  proceeds of the loan to purchase the
         assets of San Jacinto Title Company.

2.       The Company  guaranteed a loan by Heritage  Bank and Trust,  in Racine,
         Wisconsin in the amount of $399,044.14,  in favor of Sharon K. Lopez, a
         principal of Ambassador Title Company.  Ms. Lopez  originally  borrowed
         $500,000 from Firstar Bank of Milwaukee, N.A. in October, 1995 pursuant
         to a promissory note guaranteed by the Company.  The proceeds were used
         to purchase an interest in Ambassador Title Company.
         The loan from Heritage Bank refinanced the prior loan.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.12

                              Environmental Matters

                                      None.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.16

                                  Subsidiaries

WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION:

Global Corporate Services, Inc.

Lawyers Title Environmental Insurance Service Agency, Inc.
Its Subsidiaries:
LTEISA of Arizona, Inc.
LTEISA of California, Inc.
LTEISA of Colorado, Inc.
LTEISA of Connecticut, Inc.
LTEISA of New York, Inc.
LTEISA of Ohio, Inc.
LTEISA of Pennsylvania, Inc.
LTEISA of Texas, Inc.

Lawyers Title Exchange Company

Lawyers Title Services Company, Inc.

Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation
Its Subsidiaries:
American Title Group, Inc.
    Its Subsidiaries:
    ATCOD, Inc. d/b/a American Title Company
    American Title Company of Austin d/b/a Austin Title Company
    Commercial Abstract & Title Co. d/b/a Lawyers Title of San Antonio, Inc.
    William H. Tamm, Inc.
         Its Subsidiary:
         Lawyers Title & Abstract Co.
    Texas Title Company
Atlanta Title Company
Builders Disbursement Services, Inc.
Building Exchange Company
Charter Title Company
Commerce Title Guaranty Co.
Continental Diversified Services Company
Datatrace Information Services Company, Inc.
Elliptus Software Solutions, Inc.
First Stable Properties, Inc.
Florida Southern Abstract & Title Co.
Guarantee Title Co., Inc.
Guaranty Abstract & Title Co., Amarillo, TX
Land Title Abstract Co.
Land Title Dawson Abstract Co.



<PAGE>

Lawyers Abstract Corporation
Lawyers Acquisition Company, Inc.
Lawyers Holding Corporation
    Its Subsidiaries:
    Community Title, Inc.
    Cumberland Title Company
    Louisville Title Agency of Central Ohio, Inc.
    RGS Title Ltd.
    Universal Title of Baltimore, Inc.
Lawyers Title Agency, Inc.
Lawyers Title of Baton Rouge, Inc.
Lawyers Title Company
    Its Subsidiaries:
    LTC Exchange Company
    California Land Title Company
    Continental Lawyers Company
    Continental Land Title Company
    Lawyers Title of Arizona, Inc.
    Lawyers Title of Nevada, Inc.
Lawyers Title of Dallas, Inc.
Lawyers Title Data Corporation
Lawyers Title of El Paso, Inc.
    Its Subsidiary:
    Database Access, Inc.
Lawyers Title Exchange Company - BKC
Lawyers Title of North Carolina, Inc.
Lawyers Title of Pueblo, Inc.
Lawyers Title Realty Services, Inc.
Monroe County Abstract Co.
Mortgage Data Services Agency, Inc.
New Mexico Title Company
Oregon Title Insurance Company
Portland Financial Services Corporation
Real Estate Title Company, Incorporated
Real Title Company, Inc.
RealServe Company, Inc.
Richmond Company, Inc.
Rio Rancho Title, Inc.
St. Clair County Abstract Co.
Tamiami Abstract & Title Co.
The Title Guarantee & Trust Company
Title Investors Group, Inc.
    Its Subsidiaries:
    Land Title Insurance Company
    Title Insurance Company of America
        Its Subsidiaries:
        Mid-South Title Co. of Central Arkansas, Inc.
        Mid-South Title Corporation (f/n/a Bluff City Abstract Co., Inc.)
        Rutherford County Title Insurance Co.



<PAGE>

Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company
Its Subsidiaries:
Albuquerque Title Company, Inc.
Citrus Title Co., Inc.
CLT Appraisal Services, Inc.
Cltic-Relo, Inc.
Commercial Intermediary, Inc.
Commercial Settlements, Inc.
Commonwealth Title Of Arizona
Commonwealth Land Title Company
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Austin
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Dallas
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of El Paso
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Fort Worth
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Houston
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Jefferson  County
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of San Antonio
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Texas
Commonwealth Land Title Company Of Washington
Commonwealth Land Title Corporation
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company Of New Jersey
Commonwealth Relocation Services, Inc.
Crestview Lawyers Service
Crs Financial Services, Inc.
Day One, Inc.
Delpenn Land Company
District - Realty Title Insurance Corporation
Edge Rock, Inc.
Goliath, Inc.
Golden State Title Company
Industrial Valley Title Insurance Company
Louisville Title Company
Monumental Title Corporation
National 1031 Exchange Corporation, The
Osage Corporation
Plantco, Inc.
Property Services, Inc.
Rainier Title Company
Resource Alliance Group, Inc., The (51%)
State Title Insurance Company
T & T Co. Holding Company
Title & Trust Company Of Florida
Title Insurance Company
Title Guarantee Company Of Rhode Island
Title Services, Inc.



<PAGE>

Commonwealth Subsidiary Partnerships and Joint Ventures:

Cornerstone Residential Title Agency, Ltd. (51%)
Goliath, One, L.P.
Goliath, Two, L.P.
Goliath, Three, L.P.
Goliath, Four, L.P.
Goliath, Five, L.P.
The Resource Alliance Limited Partnership (49.5% is owned by CLTIC - Relo, Inc.;
1% is owned by The Resource Alliance Group, Inc.)

Transnation Title Insurance Company
Its Subsidiaries:
Title Transfer Services, Inc.
Transnation Title & Escrow, Inc.
Transnation Title Insurance Company Of New York
Xenia Property Company

Other Partly-Owned Entities of the Company:

                                               Percentage of
Entity                                         Ownership

Argonaut Relocation Services L.L.C.            50%

Charter Title/Sugarland, Ltd.                  80%

Excel Title Agency, LLC                        51%

First Title & Escrow Company, Inc.             51%

Harbour Title Company                          50%

Lawyers Title of Columbia, Inc.                83%

Lawyers Title Settlement Company, L.L.C.       50%
                                               
NIA/Lawyers Title Agency, LLC                  50%

TransOhio Residential Title
  Agency Ltd. (an LLC)                         51%



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.17

                                    Insurance

                              Nothing to disclose.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.20

                               Insurance Licenses

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name of Entity                                   Domicile                   States Where Licensed
                                                                            To Conduct Title Insurance Business

<S>                                              <C>                        <C>
Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation              Virginia                   49 states (excluding Iowa), D.C.,
                                                                            Puerto Rico, U. S. Virgin Islands
                                                                            (and Canada)

Land Title Insurance Company                     California                 California
                                                                     
Oregon Title Insurance Company                   Oregon                     Oregon
                                                                     
Title Guarantee & Trust Company                  Ohio                       Ohio
                                                                  
Title Insurance Company of America               Tennessee                  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
                                                 (Texas, commercially)      Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky,
                                                                            Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio,
                                                                            Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company        Pennsylvania               49 states (excluding Iowa), D.C.,
                                                                            Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin
                                                                            Islands
                                                                       
District Realty Title Insurance Corporation      Maryland                   Delaware, D.C., Maryland, and
                                                                            Virginia
                                                                       
Industrial Valley Title Insurance Company        Pennsylvania               Alabama, Delaware, D.C., Florida,
                                                                            Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
                                                                            Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
                                                                            Massachusetts, Mississippi, New
                                                                            Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                            Island, South Carolina, Tennessee,
                                                                            Virginia, and West Virginia
                                                               
Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co. of New Jersey   New Jersey                 Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, New
                                                                            Jersey, and Pennsylvania

State Title Insurance Company                    Pennsylvania               Pennsylvania

Title & Trust Company of Florida                 Florida                    Florida

Title Insurance Company                          Alabama                    Alabama

Transnation Title Insurance Co.                  Arizona                    Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,
                                                                            California, Colorado, Connecticut,
                                                                            Delaware, D.C., Florida,



<PAGE>

                                                                            Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
                                                                            Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,
                                                                            Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
                                                                            Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
                                                                            Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,
                                                                            New Jersey, New Mexico, North
                                                                            Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
                                                                            Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
                                                                            Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
                                                                            Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin,
                                                                            and Wyoming

Transnation Title Insurance Company of NY        New York                   New York

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.21

                                   Reinsurance

Atrium II/C961590000

In 1988,  Lawyers Title Insurance  accepted  facultative  reinsurance from Title
USA-NY (now Fidelity) on a $13,825,274  Mortgagee Policy.  Title USA-NY retained
$2,000,000 primary and 25% of the secondary risk.

This matter is an action filed by the purported  assignee of the original lender
against  the title  insurers  for losses  suffered  by the  lender  because of a
decrease in value of the security  during the pendency of prior  curative  title
litigation.  The title  litigation had  established the priority and validity of
the  subject  mortgage  in the  face of a  challenge  by the  holder  of a prior
recorded  $6,000,000  mortgage.  The lien was  established  under the  theory of
equitable  subrogation after a lengthy, but timely and progressive,  battle with
the adverse  claimant  through the Bankruptcy  Court (twice),  Federal  District
Court (twice), and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

The assignee now seeks to impose  liability on the title insurers as well as the
policy issuing  agent,  closing  attorneys,  and the abstractor by reason of the
alleged  negligence  of the agent in failing to  disclose  the prior  lien.  The
assignee also seeks to attribute the loss  sustained on the ultimate sale of the
security  to a breach of  contract  by the  insurer in failing to cure  within a
reasonable time. The Complaint alleges that the title insurer,  TRW/Fidelity, is
responsible  for the actions of the agent and the delay  caused by the  curative
action.  Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation is directly named as a party in its
role as reinsurer.

The Company has retained counsel to file an answer and cross-claim against other
parties. Discovery is scheduled through January 1998. The maximum exposure under
the reinsurance agreement in this matter could be as high as $4,500,000.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 5.22

                                    Reserves

                              Nothing to disclose.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 7.01

                                 Permitted Liens

                                      None.



<PAGE>


                                SCHEDULE 7.02(e)

                              Disposition of Assets

Lawyers Title Environmental  Insurance Agency, Inc.  contemplates selling all of
its  preferred  shares in  Environmental  Warranty,  Inc. The Company  currently
carries these shares on its books at a value of $637,914.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 7.05

                                  Indebtedness

Through Lawyers Title Exchange Company - BKC and Building Exchange Company, from
time to time title is taken to property, both real and personal, for the purpose
of completing so called  "reverse" and  "build-to-suit"  tax deferred  exchanges
under Section 1031 of the Internal  Revenue Code.  There may be instances  where
one of these Subsidiaries is the beneficiary of a non-recourse loan from a third
party lending institution or from a particular  taxpayer,  the proceeds of which
are used to  purchase  replacement  property  on behalf of the  taxpayer  and/or
construct  improvements  thereon,  and which loan is secured only by the real or
personal  property  which  is the  subject  of  the  exchange  and is  otherwise
non-recourse to the Company and its Subsidiaries.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 7.08

                             Contingent Obligations

1.       The  Company  guaranteed  a loan by  International  Bank of Commerce in
         Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  in favor of Alex H.  Harris in the  amount of
         $1,750,000. Mr. Harris used to the proceeds of the loan to purchase the
         assets of San Jacinto Title Company.

2.       The Company  guaranteed a loan by Heritage  Bank and Trust,  in Racine,
         Wisconsin in the amount of $399,044.14,  in favor of Sharon K. Lopez, a
         principal of Ambassador Title Company.  Ms. Lopez  originally  borrowed
         $500,000 from Firstar Bank of Milwaukee, N.A. in October, 1995 pursuant
         to a promissory note guaranteed by the Company.  The proceeds were used
         to purchase an interest in Ambassador Title Company.
         The loan from Heritage Bank refinanced the prior loan.

                                      * * *

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 10.02

                     OFFSHORE AND DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICES,
                              ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES


BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
  as Agent

Bank of America National Trust
and Savings Association
Agency Management Services #5596
1850 Gateway Blvd., 5th Floor
Concord, California 94520
Attention: Dana Tom

                       Telephone:  (510) 675-8409
                       Facsimile:  (510) 675-8500


AGENT'S PAYMENT OFFICE:

Bank of America NT&SA
Agency Management Services #5596
1850 Gateway Blvd., 5th Floor
Concord, California 94520
Attention: Dana Tom

                       Telephone:  (510) 675-8409
                       Facsimile:  (510) 675-8500


BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
  as a Bank

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697



<PAGE>

Notices (other than Borrowing notices and 
Notices of Conversion/Continuation):

Bank of America National Trust
and Savings Association
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697
Attention: Denise Christy

                       Telephone:  (312) 828-4184
                       Facsimile:  (312) 974-9524



<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE


                                    Financial
                                    Statement Date: ___________, ______


         Reference is made to that certain  Revolving  Credit Agreement dated as
of  _________,  1997,  (as extended,  renewed,  amended or restated from time to
time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among  Lawyers Title  Corporation,  a Virginia
corporation (the "Company"),  the several  financial  institutions  from time to
time parties to the Credit  Agreement  (the "Banks"),  Bank of America  National
Trust and Savings Association,  Individually and as Agent for the Banks (in such
capacity,  the "Agent"),  and Crestar Bank,  Individually  and as  Documentation
Agent.  Unless otherwise defined herein,  capitalized terms used herein have the
respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreements.

         The undersigned Responsible Officer of the Company, hereby certifies as
of the date  hereof  that  [he]  [she] is the  chief  financial  officer  of the
Company, and that, as such, [he] [she] is authorized to execute and deliver this
Certificate  to the  Banks  and the  Agent  on  behalf  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries, and that:

[Use the following paragraph if this Certificate is delivered in connection with
the  financial   statements   required  by  subsection  6.01(a)  of  the  Credit
Agreement.]

         1.     Attached as Schedule 1 hereto is (a) a true and correct copy of 
the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at
the end of the fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  _______  and (b) the  related
consolidated  statements of income or operations,  shareholders' equity and cash
flows for such fiscal year,  setting forth in each case in comparative  form the
figures for the previous  fiscal year, and accompanied by the opinion of Ernst &
Young L.L.P. or another nationally-recognized independent public accounting firm
(the "Independent Auditor").

                                       or

[Use the following paragraph if this Certificate is delivered in connection with
the financial statements required by subsection 6.01(b) of the Credit Agreement.

         1.     Attached as Schedule 1 hereto is (a) a true and correct copy of 
the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
of the end of the fiscal  quarter ended  __________,  ____,  and (b) the related
consolidated statements of income,  shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the
period  commencing  on the first day and ending on the last day of such quarter,
which  statements  fairly  present  in  accordance  with GAAP  (subject  only to
ordinary,  good faith year-end audit adjustments) the financial position and the
results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries.



<PAGE>

         2.     The  undersigned  has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of
the Credit  Agreement  and has made,  or has caused to be made under [his] [her]
supervision,  a detailed review of the transactions and conditions (financial or
otherwise) of the Company during the  accounting  period covered by the attached
financial statements.

         3.     To the best of the undersigned's knowledge, the Company, during 
such period, has observed, performed or satisfied all of its covenants and other
agreements,  and  satisfied  every  condition  in  the  Credit  Agreement  to be
observed,  performed or satisfied by the  Company,  and the  undersigned  has no
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default.

         4.     The following covenant  analyses  and  information  set forth on
Schedule 2 attached  hereto are true and  accurate on and as of the date of this
Certificate.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of
___________, ______.


                                    LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION


                                    By:____________________________

                                    Name:__________________________

                                    Title:_________________________



<PAGE>

                                              Date: ______________, ______
                                                    For the fiscal quarter/year
                                              ended ______________, _____


                                   SCHEDULE 2
                          to the Compliance Certificate
                                  ($ in 000's)



<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT B
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                           FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING


                                                Date: ___________, _______

To:      BANK OF AMERICA  NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS  ASSOCIATION,  Individually
         and as Agent  (the  "Agent")  for the Banks  parties  to the  Revolving
         Credit Agreement dated as of , 1997 (as extended,  renewed,  amended or
         restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among LAWYERS TITLE
         CORPORATION,  a Virginia  corporation  (the  "Company"),  Crestar Bank,
         Individually  and as  Documentation  Agent,  certain  Banks  which  are
         signatories thereto and the Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The  undersigned  on  behalf  of the  Company,  refers  to  the  Credit
Agreement,  the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined,  and
hereby  gives you notice  irrevocably,  pursuant  to Section  2.03 of the Credit
Agreement, of the Borrowing specified below:

                  1. The aggregate amount of the proposed  Borrowing is $ (which
                  shall  be  in  an  aggregate   minimum  amount  of  $5,000,000
                  (provided, however, that prior to the Increased Borrowing Date
                  such  aggregate  minimum  amount shall be  $3,000,000)  or any
                  multiple of $1,000,000).

                  2. The Business Day of the proposed Borrowing is ______, ____.

                  3. The Borrowing is to be comprised of $___________ of [Base]
                  [Offshore] Rate Loans.

                  4. [If  applicable:]  The duration of the Interest  Period for
                  the Offshore  Rate Loans  included in the  Borrowing  shall be
                  [_____ months] (which shall be 1, 2, 3 or 6 months).

         The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true
on the date  hereof,  and will be true on the  date of the  proposed  Borrowing,
before and after giving effect  thereto and to the  application  of the proceeds
therefrom:

                  (a)  the   representations   and  warranties  of  the  Company
         contained in Article V of the Credit  Agreement are true and correct as
         though  made  on  and as of  such  date  (except  to  the  extent  such
         representations and warranties relate to an earlier date, in which case
         they are true and correct as of such date); and



<PAGE>

                  (b) no  Default  or  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
         continuing, or would result from such proposed Borrowing.


                                            LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION


                                            By:_________________________________

                                            Name:_______________________________

                                            Title:______________________________
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                    FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION



                                             Date: _____________, _____


To:      BANK OF AMERICA  NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS  ASSOCIATION,  Individually
         and as Agent  (the  "Agent")  for the Banks  parties  to the  Revolving
         Credit Agreement dated as of , 1997 (as extended,  renewed,  amended or
         restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among LAWYERS TITLE
         CORPORATION,  a Virginia  corporation  (the  "Company"),  Crestar Bank,
         Individually  and as  Documentation  Agent,  certain  Banks  which  are
         signatories thereto and the Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned, the Company, refers to the Credit Agreement, the terms
defined  therein  being used  herein as therein  defined,  and hereby  gives you
notice  irrevocably,  pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Credit  Agreement,  of the
[conversion] [continuation] of the Loans specified herein, that:


                  1.   The Conversion/Continuation Date is ___________, ______.

                  2.   The aggregate  amount  of  the  Loans  to be  [converted]
                       [continued] is $__________.

                  3.   The  Loans  are to be  [converted  into]  [continued  as]
                       [Offshore] [Base] Rate Loans.

                  4.   [If  applicable:] The duration of the Interest Period for
                       the  Offshore  Rate Loans  included  in the  [conversion]
                       [continuation] shall be [___ months].


                                            LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION


                                            By:_________________________________

                                            Name:_______________________________

                                            Title:______________________________

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT D
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                             FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE



$______________                                               ____________, 1997




         FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  undersigned,  LAWYERS TITLE  CORPORATION,  a
Virginia  corporation  (the  "Company"),  hereby promises to pay to the order of
____________  (the "Bank") the principal sum of ___________  Dollars  ($_______)
or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans made by the Bank
to  the  Company  pursuant  to  the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as of
___________,  1997  (such  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  as it may be  amended,
restated,   supplemented  or  otherwise   modified  from  time  to  time,  being
hereinafter called the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Company,  Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association, Individually and as Agent for the Banks,
Crestar Bank,  Individually and as Documentation  Agent, the Bank, and the other
banks parties  thereto,  on the dates and in the amounts  provided in the Credit
Agreement.  The Company further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of the Loans  evidenced  hereby  from time to time at the  rates,  on the
dates, and otherwise as provided in the Credit Agreement.

         Except as otherwise  expressly  provided in the Credit  Agreement,  the
Company and every endorser of this Note, or the obligation  represented  hereby,
waive  presentment,  demand,  notice,  protest and other  demands and notices in
connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of
this Note, assent to any extension or postponement of the time of payment or any
other indulgence, to any substitution,  exchange or release of collateral and to
the addition or release of any other party or person  primarily  or  secondarily
liable.

         The date,  amount,  interest rate and duration of each Interest  Period
(if  applicable) of each Loan made by the Bank to the Company,  and each payment
made on account of the principal  thereof,  shall be recorded by the Bank on its
books  and,  prior to any  transfer  of this Note,  endorsed  by the Bank on the
schedule attached hereto or any continuation thereof,  provided that the failure
of the Bank to make any such  recordation  or  endorsement  shall not affect the
obligations  of the Company to make a payment when due of any amount owing under
the Credit Agreement or hereunder in respect of the Loans made by the Bank.

         This Note is one of the Notes  referred  to in, and is  entitled to the
benefits of, the Credit Agreement,  which Credit Agreement,  among other things,
contains  provisions for  acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening
of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof
prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.



<PAGE>

        Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with their defined
meanings  therein unless otherwise  defined herein.  This Note shall be governed
by, and construed and  interpreted in accordance  with, the internal laws of the
State of Illinois  applicable  to contracts  made and to be  performed  entirely
within such State.



                                            LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION


                                            By:_________________________________

                                            Name:_______________________________

                                            Title:______________________________



<PAGE>


                                SCHEDULE OF LOANS

         This Note  evidences  Loans  made,  continued  or  converted  under the
within-described Credit Agreement to the Company, on the dates, in the principal
amounts, of the types, bearing interest at the rates and having Interest Periods
(if  applicable)  of the  durations  set forth below,  subject to the  payments,
continuations, conversions and prepayments of principal set forth below:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   Date                                                                                Amount Paid,
   Made,           Principal                                                              Prepaid,       Unpaid
Continued or       Amount of       Type of                          Duration of         Continued or     Principal     Notation Made
 Converted            Loan          Loan        Interest Rate     Interest Period        Converted       Amount             by
<S>                <C>             <C>          <C>               <C>                  <C>               <C>           <C>















</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT E
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                   FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT


         This  ASSIGNMENT  AND  ACCEPTANCE   AGREEMENT  (this   "Assignment  and
Acceptance")    dated    as   of    __________,    _____    is   made    between
______________________________  (the "Assignor") and  __________________________
(the "Assignee").


                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS,  the  Assignor  is  party  to that  certain  Revolving  Credit
Agreement  dated as of  __________,  1997 (as  amended,  amended  and  restated,
modified,  supplemented or renewed,  the "Credit Agreement") among Lawyers Title
Corporation, a Virginia corporation, (the "Company"), Crestar Bank, Individually
and as Documentation Agent, the several financial institutions from time to time
party  thereto  (including  the  Assignor,  the  "Banks"),  and Bank of  America
National Trust and Savings Association,  Individually and as Agent for the Banks
(the "Agent").  Any  Capitalized  terms defined in the Credit  Agreement and not
defined in this  Assignment  and  Acceptance  are used  herein as defined in the
Credit Agreement;

         WHEREAS,  as provided  under the Credit  Agreement,  the  Assignor  has
committed to make Loans (the  "Committed  Loans") to the Company in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $__________ (the "Commitment"); and

         WHEREAS,  the Assignor  wishes to assign to the Assignee  [part of the]
[all]  rights and  obligations  of the  Assignor  under the Credit  Agreement in
respect of its Commitment, [together with a corresponding portion of each of its
outstanding  Committed  Loans] in an amount equal to $__________  (the "Assigned
Amount") on the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth  herein and the
Assignee  wishes  to  accept  assignment  of  such  rights  and to  assume  such
obligations from the Assignor on such terms and subject to such conditions.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  and the  mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:


     1.  Assignment and Acceptance.

         (a)  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of  this  Assignment  and
Acceptance,  (i)  the  Assignor  hereby  sells,  transfers  and  assigns  to the
Assignee,  and (ii) the Assignee hereby  purchases,  assumes and undertakes from
the Assignor, without recourse and without representation or warranty (except as
provided in this  Assignment and  Acceptance)  __% (the



<PAGE>

"Assignee's  Percentage  Share") of (A) the Commitment [and the Committed Loans]
of the Assignor and (B) all related rights, benefits,  obligations,  liabilities
and  indemnities  of the  Assignor  under  and in  connection  with  the  Credit
Agreement and the Loan Documents.

         [If  appropriate,  add  paragraph  specifying  payment to  Assignor  by
Assignee of outstanding principal of, accrued interest on, and fees with respect
to, Committed Loans assigned.]

         (b)  With effect on and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section
5 hereof),  the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and succeed to
all of the rights and be obligated to perform all of the  obligations  of a Bank
under   the   Credit   Agreement,    including   the   requirements   concerning
confidentiality  and the payment of  indemnification,  with a  Commitment  in an
amount equal to the Assigned Amount. The Assignee agrees that it will perform in
accordance  with their  terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of the
Credit  Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank. It is the intent
of the parties  hereto that the  Commitment  of the  Assignor  shall,  as of the
Effective  Date,  be reduced by an amount equal to the  Assigned  Amount and the
Assignor shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations  under
the Credit  Agreement  to the extent such  obligations  have been assumed by the
Assignee;  provided, however, the Assignor shall not relinquish its rights under
Section  10.5 of the Credit  Agreement  to the extent such rights  relate to the
time prior to the Effective Date.

         (c)  After giving effect to the  assignment  and  assumption  set forth
herein, on the Effective Date the Assignee's Commitment will be $__________.

         (d)  After giving effect to the  assignment  and  assumption  set forth
herein, on the Effective Date the Assignor's Commitment will be $__________.

     2.  Payments.

         (a)  As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer 
contemplated in Section 1 hereof,  the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the
Effective Date in immediately  available  funds an amount equal to  $__________,
representing  the  Assignee's  Pro Rata  Share of the  principal  amount  of all
Committed Loans.

         (b)  The [Assignor]  [Assignee]  further  agrees  to pay to the Agent a
processing  fee in the  amount  specified  in  Section  10.08(a)  of the  Credit
Agreement.

     3.  Reallocation of Payments.

     Any interest,  fees and other  payments  accrued to the Effective Date with
respect to the  Commitment,  and Committed Loans shall be for the account of the
Assignor.  Any  interest,  fees and  other  payments  accrued  on and  after the
Effective  Date with respect to the Assigned  Amount shall be for the account of
the Assignee.  Each of the Assignor and the Assignee agrees that it will hold in
trust for the other  party any  interest,  fees and other  amounts  which it may
receive to which the other party is entitled pursuant to the preceding  sentence
and pay to the other party any such amounts  which it may receive  promptly upon
receipt.


                                       2
<PAGE>

     4.  Independent Credit Decision.

     The  Assignee  (a)  acknowledges  that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and the Schedules  and Exhibits  thereto,  together with copies of the
most  recent  financial  statements  referred  to in Section  6.01 of the Credit
Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate
to make its own  credit  and legal  analysis  and  decision  to enter  into this
Assignment  and  Acceptance;  and (b)  agrees  that it will,  independently  and
without  reliance  upon the  Assignor,  the Agent or any other Bank and based on
such  documents  and  information  as it shall  deem  appropriate  at the  time,
continue  to make its own  credit  and legal  decisions  in taking or not taking
action under the Credit Agreement.

     5.  Effective Date; Notices.

         (a)  As between the Assignor and the Assignee,  the  effective date for
this Assignment and Acceptance shall be __________, ____ (the "Effective Date");
provided  that the  following  conditions  precedent  have been  satisfied on or
before the Effective Date:

              (i)   this Assignment and Acceptance shall be executed and 
delivered by the Assignor and the Assignee;

              (ii)  the written consent of the Company and the Agent required 
for an  effective  assignment  of the  Assigned  Amount by the  Assignor  to the
Assignee  under Section  10.08(a) of the Credit  Agreement  shall have been duly
obtained and shall be in full force and effect as of the Effective Date;

              (iii) the  Assignee  shall pay to the  Assignor all amounts due to
the Assignor under this Assignment and Acceptance;

              (iv)  the Assignee shall have  complied  with Section 10.08 of the
Credit Agreement (if applicable);

              (v)   the processing fee referred to in Section 2(b) hereof and in
Section 10.08(a) of the Credit Agreement shall have been paid to the Agent; and

              (vi)  the Assignor shall have assigned and the Assignee shall have
assumed a percentage equal to the Assignee's  Percentage Share of the rights and
obligations  of the  Assignor  under the  Credit  Agreement  (if such  agreement
exists).

         (b)  Promptly following the execution of this Assignment and 
Acceptance,  the  Assignor  shall  deliver  to the  Company  and the  Agent  for
acknowledgment  by the Agent, a Notice of Assignment  substantially  in the form
attached hereto as Schedule 1.


                                       3
<PAGE>

     6.  Agent.

         (a)  The Assignee hereby  appoints and  authorizes the Assignor to take
such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise  such powers under the Credit
Agreement as are  delegated  to the Agent by the Banks  pursuant to the terms of
the Credit Agreement.

         [(b) The  Assignee  shall assume no duties or  obligations  held by the
Assignor in its capacity as Agent under the Credit Agreement.]  [INCLUDE ONLY IF
ASSIGNOR IS AGENT]

     7.  Withholding Tax.

     The Assignee (a)  represents  and warrants to the Banks,  the Agent and the
Company  that under  applicable  law and  treaties no tax will be required to be
withheld by the Banks with  respect to any  payments to be made to the  Assignee
hereunder,  (b)  agrees to  furnish  (if it is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof) to the Agent and
the Company  prior to the time that the Agent or Company is required to make any
payment of principal,  interest or fees hereunder,  duplicate executed originals
of either U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service  Form 4224 or U.S.  Internal  Revenue
Service Form 1001 (wherein the Assignee claims  entitlement to the benefits of a
tax treaty that  provides  for a complete  exemption  from U.S.  federal  income
withholding tax on all payments  hereunder) and agrees to provide new Forms 4224
or 1001 upon the  expiration  of any  previously  delivered  form or  comparable
statements in accordance with applicable U.S. law and regulations and amendments
thereto,  duly executed and completed by the Assignee,  and (c) agrees to comply
with all applicable  U.S. laws and regulations  with regard to such  withholding
tax exemption.

     8.  Representations and Warranties.

         (a)  The Assignor represents  and warrants that (i) it is the legal and
beneficial  owner of the interest  being  assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any Lien or other adverse  claim;  (ii) it is duly
organized and existing and it has the full power and authority to take,  and has
taken,  all  action  necessary  to  execute  and  deliver  this  Assignment  and
Acceptance  and any other  documents  required  or  permitted  to be executed or
delivered by it in connection with this Assignment and Acceptance and to fulfill
its obligations hereunder;  (iii) no notices to, or consents,  authorizations or
approvals of, any Person are required (other than any already given or obtained)
for  its  due  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of  this  Assignment  and
Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by
the Credit  Agreement,  no further  action by, or notice to, or filing with, any
Person is required of it for such execution,  delivery or performance;  and (iv)
this  Assignment  and  Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Assignor, enforceable
against  the  Assignor  in  accordance  with the terms  hereof,  subject,  as to
enforcement,  to bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium,  reorganization and other
laws of general  application  relating to or affecting  creditors' rights and to
general equitable principles.



                                       4
<PAGE>

         (b)  The Assignor  makes no  representation  or warranty and assumes no
responsibility  with respect to any  statements,  warranties or  representations
made in or in connection with the Credit  Agreement or the execution,  legality,
validity,  enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency  or  value  of the  Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant thereto.  The
Assignor makes no  representation or warranty in connection with, and assumes no
responsibility with respect to, the solvency,  financial condition or statements
of the Company,  or the performance or observance by the Company,  of any of its
respective  obligations  under the Credit  Agreement or any other  instrument or
document furnished in connection therewith.

         (c)  The Assignee represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized
and existing and it has full power and  authority  to take,  and has taken,  all
action  necessary to execute and deliver this  Assignment and Acceptance and any
other  documents  required or  permitted  to be executed or  delivered  by it in
connection with this  Assignment and Acceptance,  and to fulfill its obligations
hereunder; (ii) no notices to, or consents,  authorizations or approvals of, any
Person are  required  (other than any  already  given or  obtained)  for its due
execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance; and apart
from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Credit Agreement,
no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it
for  such  execution,  delivery  or  performance;   (iii)  this  Assignment  and
Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Assignee,  enforceable  against the Assignee
in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement,  to bankruptcy,
insolvency,  moratorium,  reorganization  and other laws of general  application
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable  principles;
and (iv) it is an Eligible Assignee.

     9.  Further Assurances.

     The Assignor and the Assignee each hereby agree to execute and deliver such
other  instruments,  and take such other action,  as either party may reasonably
request in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this Assignment and
Acceptance,  including  the  delivery  of any  notices  or  other  documents  or
instruments  to the Company or the Agent,  which may be  required in  connection
with the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby.

     10. Miscellaneous.

         (a)  Any amendment or waiver of any  provision of this  Assignment  and
Acceptance  shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.  No failure or
delay by either  party  hereto  in  exercising  any  right,  power or  privilege
hereunder  shall operate as a waiver thereof and any waiver of any breach of the
provisions of this Assignment and Acceptance  shall be without  prejudice to any
rights with respect to any other or further breach thereof.

         (b)  All payments made  hereunder  shall be made without any set-off or
counterclaim.

         (c)  The  Assignor and the  Assignee  shall  each pay its own costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance of this Assignment and Acceptance.



                                       5
<PAGE>
         (d)  This Assignment  and  Acceptance  may be executed in any number of
counterparts  and all of such  counterparts  taken  together  shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.

         (e)  THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.  The Assignor and
the Assignee each irrevocably  submits to the non-exclusive  jurisdiction of any
State or Federal court  sitting in Illinois over any suit,  action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this  Assignment and  Acceptance  and  irrevocably
agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding  may be heard and
determined  in  such  Illinois  State  or  Federal  court.  Each  party  to this
Assignment and Acceptance  hereby  irrevocably  waives, to the fullest extent it
may effectively do so, the defense of an  inconvenient  forum to the maintenance
of such action or proceeding.

         (f)  THE ASSIGNOR AND THE ASSIGNEE  EACH HEREBY  KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY
AND  INTENTIONALLY  WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT
OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON,  OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE,  THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS AND
AGREEMENTS OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT,  COURSE OF DEALING,  OR STATEMENTS (WHETHER
ORAL OR WRITTEN).

         [Other provisions to be added as may be negotiated between the Assignor
and the Assignee,  provided that such provisions are not  inconsistent  with the
Credit Agreement.]


                            [signature page follows]



                                       6
<PAGE>

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Assignor  and the  Assignee  have  caused  this
Assignment and Acceptance to be executed and delivered by their duly  authorized
officers as of the date first above written.


                                       [ASSIGNOR]



                                       By:____________________________

                                       Name:__________________________

                                       Title:_________________________

                                       Address:_______________________
                                               _______________________
                                               _______________________



                                       7
<PAGE>


                                       [ASSIGNEE]

                                       By:____________________________

                                       Name:__________________________

                                       Title:_________________________

                                       Address:_______________________
                                               _______________________
                                               _______________________



                                       8
<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE 1

                       NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE


                                                          _____________, _______



Bank of America National Trust
  and Savings Association, as Agent
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60697
Attn: Denise Christy

Lawyers Title Corporation
6630 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of __________, 1997
(as amended, amended and restated,  modified,  supplemented or renewed from time
to time the "Credit  Agreement")  among  Lawyers Title  Corporation,  a Virginia
corporation  (the  "Company"),  Crestar Bank,  Individually and as Documentation
Agent, the several financial institutions from time to time a party thereto (the
"Banks")  and  Bank  of  America   National   Trust  and  Savings   Association,
Individually  and as Agent for the Banks  (the  "Agent").  Terms  defined in the
Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

         1.     We hereby  give you notice  of, and  request  your  consent  to,
the assignment by  __________________  (the "Assignor") to _______________  (the
"Assignee") of _____% of the right, title and interest of the Assignor in and to
the Credit  Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,  the  right,  title and
interest of the  Assignor in and to the  Commitments  of the  Assignor,  and all
outstanding  Loans  made  by  the  Assignor)  pursuant  to  the  Assignment  and
Acceptance  Agreement  dated  _________  attached  hereto (the  "Assignment  and
Acceptance").  Before giving effect to such assignment the Assignor's Commitment
is $  ___________,  and  the  aggregate  amount  of  its  outstanding  Loans  is
$_____________.

         2.     The Assignee  agrees that,  upon  receiving the consent of the 
Agent and, if applicable,  the Company to such assignment,  the Assignee will be
bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as fully and to the same extent as if
the  Assignee  were the Bank  originally  holding  such  interest  in the Credit
Agreement.



<PAGE>

         3.     The following administrative details apply to the Assignee:

                (A)     Notice Address:

                        Assignee name: _________________________
                        Address: _______________________________
                                 _______________________________
                                 _______________________________
                        Attention: _____________________________
                        Telephone: (___) _______________________
                        Telecopier: (___) ______________________
                        Telex (Answerback): ____________________

                (B)     Payment Instructions:
                        
                        Account No.: ___________________________
                                 At: ___________________________
                                     ___________________________
                                     ___________________________
                        Reference: _____________________________
                        Attention: _____________________________

         4.     You are entitled to rely upon the  representations,  warranties
and covenants of each of the Assignor and Assignee  contained in the  Assignment
and Acceptance.

                            [signature page follows]




                                       -2-

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Assignor  and the  Assignee  have caused this
Notice of  Assignment  and  Acceptance to be executed by their  respective  duly
authorized officials, officers or agents as of the date first above mentioned.

         Very truly yours,

         [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


         By:_____________________________

         Title:__________________________


         [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]


         By:_____________________________

         Title:__________________________



ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASSIGNMENT
CONSENTED TO:


LAWYERS TITLE CORPORATION

By:_____________________________

Title:__________________________


BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
  SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By:_____________________________

Title:__________________________




                                       -3-
<PAGE>



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